a well meaning girlfriend gave me a walthers dcc friendly double crossover switch for my layout. I not entirely sure how to wire the power feeds to the track for my dcc setup. I plan to use manual throws so switch motor wiring is not an issue. my main concern is that it would be located between 2 tunouts along the top thru routing with the left side being point to point . Do I need to put any gaps in or can I just wire it staight to my power bus like ordinary straight track? The underside seems to be already setup for all the jumper feeds for the plastic frogs. Anybody have any expeience with this product?
Hi,
Welcome freind, the lass sounds a treasure, look after her mate they's like hens teeth.
Right, sounds like it's a sissors, 4 points with a diamond crossing in the middle. A great space saver, never used one on DCC though. You could if you've room, lay it out with a piece of track on each corner and hookup some gater clips to one leg and run something through, self routing points should be ok with no gaps or feeds required. When fitting I'd feed from bottom right and top right with the other ends insulated on both rails.
Using NMRA profile wheels you should'nt have any problems. There again I could be completely wrong, no harm in trying though.
Be in touch.
pick.
The Walthers double crossover is electrically constructed as if it is 4 independent turnouts, all wired in phase. With that in mind, your only concern is whether you have any reversing sections on your layout. Otherwise, the double crossover can be installed directly into your layout without any special wiring considerations. In order to ensure faultless operation of the double crossover, however, be sure to add feeders to the rails on each of the four ends of the double crossover.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have two of a slightly older version. I don't know if the current DCC one is any different. What I found is the points feed the stock rails and they are unreliable. I just added four feeders and everything works smoothly. I don't have a photo but it's pretty easy to figure out.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
thank you for the tips guys. I had a small problem with the point to point section but I solved that by using a short straight section and used it as a power feed. I did power all 4 point end like richhotrain suggested and it worked like a charm. As I suspected these new versions are wired as a "plug and play " setup, not like the older version I am used to, where you had to wire in jumpers. my only other problem was some cleanup filing on the point and plastic frogs.
Yes john I very much intend to hang onto my lady friend. I even bought her a tree making kit. As I model the north western part of new england, you can guess what my motive for that was!
I look forward to hearing from you guys in the future, especially if anyone wishes to send their e mail to me. My adress is legreany@aol. com
boston albany fan thank you for the tips guys. I had a small problem with the point to point section but I solved that by using a short straight section and used it as a power feed. I did power all 4 point end like richhotrain suggested and it worked like a charm.
thank you for the tips guys. I had a small problem with the point to point section but I solved that by using a short straight section and used it as a power feed. I did power all 4 point end like richhotrain suggested and it worked like a charm.
Glad to hear that worked for you.
I have several of the Walthers Shinohara double crossovers on my layout, and it was necessary in each instance to power all four legs of the double crossover. That surprises me because that has not been necessary on my other Walthers Shinohara specialty tracks like wyes and 3-way turnouts. I wonder if the internal "wiring" of the Walthers Shinohara double crossover is flawed.