I am planning a new layout following a move to a new home and plan to use Peco switches. My layout will be a point to point switching layout and I was wondering if the insulfrog swithes work well with DCC. My smalled locos are Bachman 44 tonners with ESU decoders (sound and run great). Would stalling at the frogs be an issue?
John in Carolina
The dead spot on an Insulafrog is quite small. However, IMO the Electrofrog is a much better design, DC or DCC. I am planning a new layout and the majority of the turnouts on this one will be Peco, and I am planning to use Electrofrog.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Keep the below link.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I went with the elecrtofrogs. Very easy to use.
Another vote for Electrofrog. Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks to Rich and all the others who responded. Electrofrog it is!
Carolina John
trnj Thanks to Rich and all the others who responded. Electrofrog it is! Carolina John
in the future, share that link when you see the same question. a picture is worth a thousand words.
Electrofrog for sure! Doug
If you are going to use the Peco Electrofrog, don't forget to gap the two inside rails beyond the frog.
Alton Junction
I use insulfrog and have been happy with them. I feel one of the advantages is that you can power from both sides. Disadvantage is that sometimes a wheel flange bridges the gap on the frog and causes a short. I found especially true with Bachmann locos. Solution is to file the gap larger or to insulate with nail polish etc.
- Douglas
Doughless trnj Thanks to Rich and all the others who responded. Electrofrog it is! Carolina John You are much smarter than I am. I read that link and I have no idea what it is talking about or why Electrofrog would be much better.
Go back and read the article slowly. Go old school. Take a piece of paper and make notes for each type of turnout. Compare your notes and it will make sense. it will take a little time.
richg1998 Doughless trnj Thanks to Rich and all the others who responded. Electrofrog it is! Carolina John You are much smarter than I am. I read that link and I have no idea what it is talking about or why Electrofrog would be much better. Go back and read the article slowly. Go old school. Take a piece of paper and make notes for each type of turnout. Compare your notes and it will make sense. it will take a little time. Rich
Thanks, I will do that.
Just a quick explanation of my dilemma. I know that I'm missing something.
Manufacturers electrofrog turnouts do not have a gap in the inside rails beyond the frog. The rails meet at the frog and form a V. I don't understand how this does not cause a short when electricity is sent to the turnout, or at least when the loco passes through the frog.
It seems to me that the frog should be electrically isolated. If subsequently powered, then there must be some way of changing the polarity of the frog depending upon if the the loco is taking the diverging or tangent route.
I guess what I'm confused about, wouldn't it be easier to start off with an insulfrog, then power it with a gizmo that also changes the polarity, than to start off with an electrofrog, cut it up, install jumpers to the inside rails, then install a gizmo that changes the polarity? I think I'm missing something.
Doughless I guess what I'm confused about, wouldn't it be easier to start off with an insulfrog, then power it with a gizmo that also changes the polarity, than to start off with an electrofrog, cut it up, install jumpers to the inside rails, then install a gizmo that changes the polarity? I think I'm missing something.
Doughless Manufacturers electrofrog turnouts do not have a gap in the inside rails beyond the frog. The rails meet at the frog and form a V. I don't understand how this does not cause a short when electricity is sent to the turnout, or at least when the loco passes through the frog. It seems to me that the frog should be electrically isolated. If subsequently powered, then there must be some way of changing the polarity of the frog depending upon if the the loco is taking the diverging or tangent route.
http://railwaybobsmodulebuildingtips.blogspot.ca/2013/01/the-peco-electrofrog-circuitry.html
It is all about power routing. The Electrofrog is designed to carry power right through the frog onto the selected route, so best not to isolate the frog. Users are then free to cut their own gaps on the two inner rails to prevent dead shorts in certain situations.
richhotrain The Electrofrog is designed to carry power right through the frog onto the selected route. Rich
Okay, that makes sense. I'll read the link to see how that's done and about wiring. Thanks.
The two links from the two Richs both contain very good information and explanations, but for the electrically inept, like myself, here’s a simple wiring diagram for Peco Electrofrogs. Cheers, the Bear.
Well that looks simple enough. Using the top RH turnout as the example, when the sliding point rail touches the diverging B side, it powers the small legs beyond the frog with B current. And when it touches the A tangent, it powers the small legs with A current. Because, as Rich said, the power moves through the frog.
Which is why Peco uses the sprung points, to hold them tightly against whichever rail and establish good electrical contact.
When you look at JaBear's drawing, take note of the placement of the four sets of gaps. Without them, shorts would occur.
For example, if the crossover were set to the straight through route, A would meet B where the two crossover turnouts connect, causing a short due to the mismatched polarities. If the crossover were set to the divergent route, B would meet A on the straight through end of each turnout beyond the frog, causing a short due to the mismatched polarities. The gaps on the inner rails prevent shorts from occurring when the power routing point rails are thrown the other way.