Shinohara Code 100 #6 curved turnouts DCC friendly?

[nealknows]

Hello everyone, 

Does anyone know if the Shinohara #6 curved turnouts are DCC friendly. Walthers is currently out until October, but before I buy them, has anyone used the latest ones they made? I know earlier turnouts weren't so friendly.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Neal

[maxman]

If that connecting piece between the ends of the points is metal, then the answer is no:

https://www.walthers.com/code-100-nickel-silver-6-turnout-left-hand

Plus Walthers does not call it DCC friendly.

[gmpullman]

Unless something has recently changed, only the code 83, made by Shinohara and marketed by Walthers, is all live, meaning the points are insulated from each-other and the frog is also isolated. (AKA DCC friendly)

Older Walthers code 83 turnouts were power routing type requiring insulated gaps unless used on a stub-end siding.

The Shinohara code 70 and 100 were also power-routing turnouts.

Try other vendors that may have code 83 curved turnouts.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO-Scale-Code-83-s/1465.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1465&brand=Walthers&show=30&page=1

 {edit} I was just browsing the Walthers sale flyer and noticed that they now list the code 70 and 100 track as "Shinohara from Walthers" this is a recent change AFAIK. Maybe Walthers has more financial/marketing control over Shinohara?

Still, I'm not aware that they made any change to the product line and the 70 and 100 turnouts are probably still power routing type. Perhaps a call to Milwaukee will get the answer. {end edit}

Good Luck, Ed

[SouthPenn]

The code 100 switches are not "DCC freindly". They work fine on DCC layouts if you don't connect the rails leaving the frog ( main and diverging routes ) to the layout tracks.

The original part of my layout was started in the late 1980s and I used all Shinohara code 100 switches. When I switched to DCC, I did nothing to the layout except to run additional feeders.

An advantage to using the NON DCC freindly switches ( if installed correctly ) is that small, short engines will not stall going through them. AND, there is no special wiring or switches or 'juicers' or any anything extra to do or buy.

[nealknows]

Finally had a few minutes during my work day to call Walthers. The tech guy was trying to be helpful, but had no idea if it was DCC friendly. He thought some of the new code 100 track coming in was DCC friendly, but with no stock on hand, he couldn't tell. Guess I have to wait until October...

Neal

[rrinker]

 They call them "DCC Compatible" which implies that the oother ones are not, but this is simply not true. For many, they work fine as-is, the only possible trouble point is an out of gauge wheel rubbing the back of the open point rail, which by default in the design is at the opposite polarity as the adjacent stock rail. These are not difficult to fix, see: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_walthers_old.htm

if you really must have it "dcc friendly".

                         --Randy

 

[SouthPenn]

Be extreamly careful if you decide to modify a perfectly good switch. I trashed a #6 double cross over trying to make it 'DCC freindly'. Turns out it would have worked fine right out of the box. Just throw all four switches when you needed to cross from one track to the other.

[skagitrailbird]

Generally you can use non DCC friendly turnouts on a DCC layout. BUT, if you have any opposing turnouts (for instance at each end of a siding) an easy modification may be necessary. Cut gaps in the two rails leading away from the frog. Cut these as close to the frog as reasonably possible. Fill the gaps with a styrene shim to avoid a short from possible rail creep (don’t ask me how I know). All three tracks leading to/from the turnout must then have power bus feeders.