My personal experience was that powered frogs were much less important than running a feeder to every switch point. Yes, it was a lot of work, but it made my yard ladder 100% reliable, even with dead frogs.That, and making sure that all eight wheels really did pick up power.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Hello All,
The famous phrase, "If I knew then what I know now..." comes to mind.
First, would be to go directly to DCC- -my personal "oops" moment.
Second, would be to use turnouts with the option to power the frogs. Another "oops" moment.
On one side of my pike the entire run is a series of turnouts- -Atlas Snap Switches and PECO #2s.
Anything with a smaller wheelbase than a 44-tonner requires a Power Storage Device (Keep Alive™) to negotiate this myriad of unpowered frogs.
If you are using Tortoise switch machines I would use the frog power from the unit using the K.I.S.S. addage.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Control will be DCS at first then probably DCC in the future. I know I know but we already have all the DCS components from other scales just sitting around.
A frog juicer is an unnecessary expense when the extra Tortoise contacts will do the job.
No need for a fancy Frog Juicer in most situations. If you have some complex arrangement where it isn;t fairly obvious which rail a give frog should be connected to for any give route, that's when a Frog Juicer comes in handy. A simpole siding or spur, or even a basic crossover, there's not too much doubt. A double crossover, if using a Peco Electrofrog crossing in the middle - that might be a candidate.
I prefer the contacts - by changing the frog when the points change, you are completely avoiding a short at the frog. With a Frog Juicer, you are allowing a short to occur, which the Frog Juicer rapidly fixes.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Since you are going to all the wiring and expense of switch machines and they have ability to power the frog and change polarity, it sounds like that's the way to go.
The Hex Frog juicers are about $70 a pop to do 6 frogs - you won't need them. Also, TV Hex frog juicers are a DCC only product FYI.
I'm using Tam Valley Hex Frog Juicers, but I'm mostly using finger flick to manually throw the switch machines as I can reach most and it saves me all the cost and wiring of switch machines, not to mention control panels.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
We are building a new HO layout. At the wiring stage. Have both Peco & Atlas switches. We already modified the Peco's for electrified frogs, with Tortoise switch machine. the question is do we go with a Frog Juicer or stick to using the switch machines internal relay to power the frog.