Wiring turnouts for DCC

[SWA737]

With my point-to-point layout (no reverse loops), how do I wire the turnouts and do I purchase live or dead frogs. Modeling late 1950's with a little bit of steam and the rest early diesel in HO.

Thanks,

Rob Cooper

[simon1966]

Lots of options here.   Check out http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm there is an excellent section that looks at many of the different types of turnout.  Live frogs are more wiring intensive but work better with short wheelbase locomotives that don't have such great pickup.

 

[peahrens]

I'm wrapping up the initial trackwork and wiring on my HO DCC 5' x 9' layout.  I went with Walthers-Shinohara code 83 DCC friendly turnouts (frogs are isolated).  These turnouts have some jumpers built in (you can see them underneath) that connect most of the rails together, except the isolated frog (unpowered as built) and the moveable hinged point rails. 

I leaned toward the "wire each piece of track" goal, and did not solder turnout rail joiners, so I added feeders to the turnout stock rails and powered the frogs (via the Tortoise contacts to provide appropriate "polarity" for current position).  I did not jumper to the hinged points, so they depend on the point contact to the stock rails, helped by the Tortoise spring. 

Part of a conservative wiring incentive is to prevent DCC interruptions to sound locos which creates a sound pause.  I did not find it all too difficult once I did enough reading here and elsewhere and got the first few turnouts done.  I did find a mockup install on a piece of plywood, with turnout, Tortoise, DPDT switch & bicolor LED, etc to be helpful.  That got me some practice on wiring, soldering, etc.