I know that this problem has been discussed many times in the past, but I need a refresher. I am having turnout problems. Recently, I purchased a Digitrax Zypher and 2 DCC Proto locos. The conversion to DCC went smoothly and the addresses on the locos were sucessfully changed without incident. I am using Atlas code 100, #4 and 6 turnouts. The first loco I ran on DCC was a smaller tender loco with thin wheels and it ran the turnouts just fine. The second loco was a bit larger and has wider wheels, and caused derailments and shorts at the turnouts. An article I read suggested using clear nail polish on the frogs to eliminate the shorts. That worked briefly, Then, the problem reappeard. Sometime the front of the loco would go thru the trunout and the back would try to take the turnout and derail. Any ides?
Break out your NMRA standards gauge and check your track work and wheels for gauge issues. Has this locomotive run through this turnout in the past without derailing? What has changed beside DCC? If this is a new loco and the wheels are in gauge then is the turnout too small or a hidden reverse curve for it? Putting an insulator over the frog is not going to cure the derailing issues. Fix the derailing and you will fix your shorts.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Run it very slowly and see exactly where it is and what each wheel is touching at the moment it short. Running it at a faster speed, it may coast a bit past the short and not give a good indication. If it won't run that slow, have it sit with the headlight on and slowly push it on to the turnout until it shorts and the headlight goes out. The way Atlas turnouts are built, the only place it really can short is just before the frog where the rails come close together before the plastic starts - that's where you put the nail polish. The only other possible short is if you attached a feeder wire to the frog - it needs to change polarity with the movement of the points, or in one direction it will be a short.
I haven't had this issue, but I use the Atlas Code 83 turnouts. The 100's may be sloppier.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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