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low tech, frog/power routing and LED indication

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  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
low tech, frog/power routing and LED indication
Posted by gregc on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 6:33 AM

saw a layout yesterday and was impressed with some low tech constructioin and control techniques.

the layout is designed for operation.

very old chassis mount dpdt slide switches and small push rods embedded in the homasote are used for turnout control, frog power and LED indication

but separate panel mounted SPST switches were used for track de-powering to quiet locos with sound

is there any reason the frog connection can't be used to power the associated rails on the single ended spurs (i.e. power routing)?

in the one switch position, the one spur would have +/- on its rails while the other has -/- and is effectively "off".   in the other position, the one spur has +/+ on its rails, "off", while the other other has +/-.

also, if LEDs are attached directly to the rails, there's no need for a DPDT and the LEDs indicate if the rails have power

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Christiana, TN
  • 2,134 posts
Posted by CSX Robert on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 10:31 AM

gregc
is there any reason the frog connection can't be used to power the associated rails on the single ended spurs (i.e. power routing)?

No reason, that would work fine.

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