AllI use Peco ElectroFrog turnouts on my layout (only about 20% of track laid, but includes the main modeled yard ... so higher % of turnouts). No special wiring, hand-thrown ... I just added insulated joiners after the frog. No operational issues yet. If I haven't run anything in a while, I need to clean the track, but that's expected. I come across as many multi-year success stories about Peco turnout power reliability (coming from the point rails only) as I do stories saying that they eventually fail over time.If I wanted to go back and add Frog Juicers to the yard area (track laid, soldered, wired, spot glued down with caulk ... no ballast or scenery yet) is it possible without cutting through the factory jumpers and soldering the stock rail and closure rail on their respective sides? i.e. is it worth just trying to power the frog with a juicer and not execute the other modifications since I can't easily access the bottom of the turnout without prying up the yard tracks/ladder?Again, no failures yet, just want to look at options before I go back to paint the rails/ballast and weather the yard.
N-Scale btw ... not that it matters in this situation.Mike
I added some Frog Juicers after installation on WS turnouts including a double crossover. I don't feel I should advise you on your Peco turnouts but recommend you drop Tam Valley an e-mail as I have found they give sound advice on how to use their products.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN I added some Frog Juicers after installation on WS turnouts including a double crossover. I don't feel I should advise you on your Peco turnouts but recommend you drop Tam Valley an e-mail as I have found they give sound advice on how to use their products.
Thanks, Batman ... I might try that.
I like the subtle logo add as well ...
Kelly, there are a few Hockey fans on here and we had a little fun a couple years back at playoff time. Here is the link to the thread.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/217384.aspx?page=1
Are you in for this years playoffs?????
There was a recent discussion on Peco Electrofrog, and looking at the examples I have here in front of me, if you just hook the frog wire to a Juicer, as long as you have the diverging frog rails gapped, it should work. However, the open point rail will then be opposite polarity from the adjacent stock rail, and back to back shorts could occur.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As Batman did, I added Frog juicers to W/S turnouts with no problems, including related to the points (the frogs are isolated). I don't know about Pecos, but I was able to attach the frog wire to a guardrail adjacent to the frog because the guardrails are electrically continuous with the frog.
Dante
Kelly: I have installed Frog Juicers on all of my N scale PECO electrofrog turnouts (about 60 of them) and most were done after installation. Using my Dremel with an appropriately small drill bit, I drill a small hole right along the "crotch" of the "V" of the frog rails thru the roadbed and sub roadbed (1/2 " plywood). Cover the rails with a piece of cork or something so that the dremel doesn't hit the rails. Then I feed a wire (22-26ga - stranded) down thru the hole and connect to the juicer. Then tin the end of the wire and then carefully solder the wire to the "crotch" of the "V". Use heat sinks (wet paper towels follded up) to protect the plastic ties. I have had very few problems with this method. BTW: I also solder (30 ga or thinner stranded) jumpers across the "pivot joint" of each of the point rails on the outside of the rail to ensure conductivity, leave a little slack. Clean the rails well before soldering to ensure a good joint. Once in a while a jumper will come loose. Simple repair (if a bit exacting) to get it soldered back on. Adding the juicers has significantly improved the operations of my railroad, where I run short wheel-based NW-2's and SW 1500's during operating sessions. Night and day before and after Juicers. Well worth the time and expense - in my opinion and experience. Joel
owen w in california Kelly: I have installed Frog Juicers on all of my N scale PECO electrofrog turnouts (about 60 of them) and most were done after installation. Using my Dremel with an appropriately small drill bit, I drill a small hole right along the "crotch" of the "V" of the frog rails thru the roadbed and sub roadbed (1/2 " plywood). Cover the rails with a piece of cork or something so that the dremel doesn't hit the rails. Then I feed a wire (22-26ga - stranded) down thru the hole and connect to the juicer. Then tin the end of the wire and then carefully solder the wire to the "crotch" of the "V". Use heat sinks (wet paper towels follded up) to protect the plastic ties. I have had very few problems with this method. BTW: I also solder (30 ga or thinner stranded) jumpers across the "pivot joint" of each of the point rails on the outside of the rail to ensure conductivity, leave a little slack. Clean the rails well before soldering to ensure a good joint. Once in a while a jumper will come loose. Simple repair (if a bit exacting) to get it soldered back on. Adding the juicers has significantly improved the operations of my railroad, where I run short wheel-based NW-2's and SW 1500's during operating sessions. Night and day before and after Juicers. Well worth the time and expense - in my opinion and experience. Joel
Owen ... this applications seems very interesting. do you happen to have any photos of your wiring process for the FrogJuicer to the frog ... and the 'jumpers'?
Mike