wiring Atlas N 55 turnouts

[erosebud]

Friends,

   If I had hair, I'd be pulling it out.  I'm wiring my second layout for block two-cab operation, using Atlas Code 55 track.  Power is from a faithful SAT-7.  I figured I'd wire one cab first and make sure everything worked, then hook up my second throttle.

  I've practically memorized Easy Model Railroad Wiring.  I grasp that as is, the Atlas turnouts are all-live, and I've been running locos with great success that way--apart from the predictable stalls on the frog with short-wheelbase locos.  So now I'm ready to add wiring to make the turnouts selective and better performing.  I have Bullfrog switch controls, which include a simple electrical switch with a contact that goes to the frog and one each to the north and south rails.

   It seems so simple.  I have power from the point end of the turnout.  I've cut gaps in both rails of both routes at the other end.  I run a wire from the Atlas tab (for the frog) to the correct contact on the Bullfrog switch.  I run a wire from the north and south rails to the other two contacts.

   The train runs fine on one "leg" of the turnout, but shorts on the other.  I've switched the north and south wires; same result.  I've moved the feeder connections from where the Bullfrog diagram shows them (past the points) to where the Atlas diagram shows them; same result.  I've tried another turnout, in case I got a bad one; same result.  I've removed the electrical switch from the Bullfrog and clicked it by hand (leaving the wires hooked up, of course); same result.  I've tried two different electrical switches in case one of those was bad; same result.  I've checked continuity between the feeder wires and the switch contacts; it's good.  I'm obviously getting power to the track, because the trains run--until, on one leg of the turnout, they short at the frog.  I hear the overload signal in my sleep.

   I've run out of permutations.  Each time I try one wire swap or turnout position, I think "This'll surely fix it," but it hasn't.  I'm missing something.  Of course, I can leave all the turnouts unwired, but now it's the principle of the thing as well as the desire for better performance.  If you have suggestions I haven't listed here, or some other startling revelation, I'll be much obliged.  Even if a new idea doesn't work, I'll be glad to have one more unsuccessful method to check off.

[rrinker]

 Wait, are you trying ot make them power routing, or just power the frog? Converting to power routing is NOT necessary to power the frog, and involves a lot more than just adding gaps at the frog end. You have to cut a bunch of the internal jumpers as well to prevent shorts, and you'll then need jumpers to the points so THEY get reliable power. DON'T DO THIS. Simply wire the center contact of one of the switches of the Bullfrog to the frog tab, and wire the outer contacts to the N and S rails. The turnout will still be all powered but now the frog will also be powered to prevent stalls. If it's backwards, just flip the N and S wires. No other modifications are needed.

                                    --Randy