http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx
You gotta follow the rules, no facebook or google photos, no copy and paste.
Sorry I set everyone down the wrong path of 3 way turnouts. I have not seen it refered to as a yard triple.
About 1/4 of the way down there is a diagram of wiring non DCC friendly turnouts
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I am trying to post a photo, but as yet to no avail.
I now understand the confusion. I don't see the procedure for posting a photo, but I looked on the container and my triple switches are called a yard ladder (had also seen it called yard point triple but probably incorrectly so) so 3 switches in a row. I do have two right hand and two left hand, but can see that in this case that would make no difference. It looks as though all I need to do is make 4 cuts per switch to isolate the frogs, jumper stock rails, jumper points, then power the track leading to the ladder, and finally power each spur. Also, I need to modify the points at the switching mechanism. Sorry for the confusion, but please let me know if I have missed something on the wiring. Thanks, Jim
Agree with Dante. Added advantage is power is only routed to one siding at a time, leaving the other two dead. Great for parking locomotives.
Jim, sorry if I was not more clear. Big Daddy's photo shows the short piece of track that might require the application of clear nail polish to to the top of the rail to insulate it from a contact with wheels that might cause a short.
There are no left hand, right hand 3-ways-they are all configured the same way. By LH and RH I was referring to the frog locations as seen by a loco approaching the 3-way from the direction of facing the points. Big Daddy has a better terminology.
Finally, unless you intend to simultaneously operate locos on more than one of the spurs served by one 3-way and assuming that they are really dead-end spurs (vs. double-ended sidings), you needn't "convert" the 3-ways to DCC. And you needn't separately feed each spur. The 3-ways will work just fine as power-routing turnouts, powering one spur at a time.
Dante
This picture is frequently posted in the threads I suggested you look at.
The arrow points to the troublesome piece of rail. With respect to the frog furthest right in the picture, the other frogs are to the left. More properly the frogs could be described as the proximal (closest to the throwbar) and the left frog.
I need another cup of coffee before I realize why wiring the proximal and right frog would not work.
dante If you are preparing the 3-way for DCC, presumably you will isolate the frogs and install connecting jumpers under certain stock rails. There is a small piece of rail between the 2 left-hand frogs that could cause shorts with some of your motive power. That piece should receive the nail polish treatment. You might also find that certain motive power loses power at the isolated frogs. If so, install keep-alives in those locos or ad a Frog Juicer to the frogs. The 2 left-hand frogs can both be connected to one connection on the juicer (they will never require comflicting polarity). Finally, feed track power ahead of the points of the 3-way. Dante
If you are preparing the 3-way for DCC, presumably you will isolate the frogs and install connecting jumpers under certain stock rails. There is a small piece of rail between the 2 left-hand frogs that could cause shorts with some of your motive power. That piece should receive the nail polish treatment.
You might also find that certain motive power loses power at the isolated frogs. If so, install keep-alives in those locos or ad a Frog Juicer to the frogs. The 2 left-hand frogs can both be connected to one connection on the juicer (they will never require comflicting polarity).
Finally, feed track power ahead of the points of the 3-way.
Dante, you probably have it right, but I don't quite understand what you are saying. This small piece "of rail between the 2 left-hand frogs," why do you say left-hand? I am using 4 triple turnouts 2 are right-hand and 2 are left-hand. Are they treated differently for isolating and wiring? Could you please better describe exactly where this piece of rail you mention is located.
What exactly is the nail polish treatment in this case?
I do plan to use frog juicers. When you say 2 left-hand frogs can be connected to on juicer connection, I don't understand. I seems to me that the first frog could be one polarity since that spur is being passed by, but the second frog could be the opposite polarity if that spur is going to be accessed.
I had planned the normal (for DCC conversion) 4 cuts to isolate each frog and jumpers to keep the points hot, but wasn't sure if this was enough so I'm happy to understand anything you are conveying here.
Thanks, Jim
Three way turnouts can be troublesome. 1/2 way down on the forum page on the right, there is a search box. There is a certain area of the track that needs nail polish to prevent shorts. Search three way, not triple. I'm sure wiring has been discussed too.
I am doing a small yard layout and in it I am using four yard point triple turnouts. These are Shinohara not for DCC so I will modify each of the 12 switches for DCC, but I wondering where I should attach the track power leads so as to get the best performance. I will attach track power to each of the 12 spurs, but not sure about the rail between the switch mechanisms on the triple turnouts. Any help would be appreciated. Jim