Wiring a trunout for DC

[tomikawaTT]

richhotrain

jrbernier:

  Shinhara turnouts are of an 'power routing' type, as you noted.  Here is what I do:

• Feed power only from the point end of the turnout.  You will get shorts when you feed from the frog end as 'throwing the switch' will produce a dead short.
• Put insulated rail joiners at the two rails that form a 'V' at the frog end - then feed power on the other side of the insulated rail joiners to power further down the track.  This will keep you from shorting out the world.

Jim

 

Jim,

I assume that the last word in your post is a typo.  What did you mean by "shorting out the world"?

Rich

As applied to my situation, "The world," is the 1:80 scale world known locally as The Chrysanthemum Empire - as it would be if all my DC electricals were supported by one DC humongusupply.

Okay, it's an exaggeration.  Don't be too literal-minded.  Enjoyment of fiction requires a suspension of disbelief.  Our miniature empires are all works of fiction, no matter how hard we try to model the prototype.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - when not writing about the 36th century)

[richhotrain]

jrbernier

  Shinhara turnouts are of an 'power routing' type, as you noted.  Here is what I do:

• Feed power only from the point end of the turnout.  You will get shorts when you feed from the frog end as 'throwing the switch' will produce a dead short.
• Put insulated rail joiners at the two rails that form a 'V' at the frog end - then feed power on the other side of the insulated rail joiners to power further down the track.  This will keep you from shorting out the world.

Jim

Jim,

I assume that the last word in your post is a typo.  What did you mean by "shorting out the world"?

Rich

[tomikawaTT]

jrbernier

  Shinhara turnouts are of an 'power routing' type, as you noted.  Here is what I do:

• Feed power only from the point end of the turnout.  You will get shorts when you feed from the frog end as 'throwing the switch' will produce a dead short.
• Put insulated rail joiners at the two rails that form a 'V' at the frog end - then feed power on the other side of the insulated rail joiners to power further down the track.  This will keep you from shorting out the world.

Jim

One addition to Jim's excellent post.  If one leg of the turnout is a spur (industrial siding, single-end yard track...) you can omit the gap in the frog rail leading to the spur.  That way, when the points are thrown against the spur both of its rails are at the same potential, there will be zero voltage across the locomotive pickups of anything standing on that spur and it will be electrically dead.  That is what the, "Power routing," feature of a live-frog turnout is all about.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with hand-laid live-frog specialwork)

[jrbernier]

  Shinhara turnouts are of an 'power routing' type, as you noted.  Here is what I do:

• Feed power only from the point end of the turnout.  You will get shorts when you feed from the frog end as 'throwing the switch' will produce a dead short.
• Put insulated rail joiners at the two rails that form a 'V' at the frog end - then feed power on the other side of the insulated rail joiners to power further down the track.  This will keep you from shorting out the world.

Jim

[JoeinPA]

This site has some pretty clear and complete information: http://www.proto87.com/turnout-wiring-for-DCC.html

Joe

[HudsonRR]

As I am still learning the mystries of wiring, I am in need of advice as to wiring a Shinohaha, code 100, #8 left hand turnout for DC.  I found this turnout and it is the only power routed turnout I have.  While I have read on the subject of turnout wiring, I have not be able to find a "clear and consise" wiring diagram for a DC turnout.  I have been experimenting, but keep ending up with shorts and do not wish to damage my electrical equipment.   Any good diagrams out there?