Did you also cut the copper-cladding on the ties as per directions? Otherwise you will get a short and it might be hard to fix it after the fact.
I have been making the rail cuts as per directions and figured that was enough to isolate the powered frogs. Just wanted to be sure nothing else was necessary.
Thanks again for the feedback guys!
Basicaly you need to insulate the frog, ussually this is done where the turnout meets the flex, same as a non DCC friendly Shinohara turnout.
Built correctly, using Tim Warris' guide video, those turnouts function perfectly and don't need gaps other than those isolating the frogs. You can make those frog gaps almost invisible and you won't get them to close, no matter what.
Thanks guys. That was pretty much my understanding but wanted confirmation before proceeding. Electrical is not my forte.
I would have to say, if built correctly and the frog is truly isolated then there should be no issues wiring all three legs of the turnout.
Pete.
As long as the frogs are gapped you'll be fine. Just make sure the two kerfs in the frog are wide enough so that when the track expands during the warmer months is doesn't lead to a short.
I found the Fast Track turnouts to be very reliable on my previous layout and I really like them. I used Caboose Hobbies 220S ground throws for switching the turnouts. They worked great and smaller switchers had no issue navigating through them because the frog was always "live".
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Sorry for this really basic question, but I am starting to replace my current turnouts with handmade FastTrack turnouts which will have isolated frogs and will be powered through my Tortoise machines. Pretty sure I do not need to also insulate each end of the turnouts but some past reading seemed to indicate I might (but that might have been only for unisolated frogs).
Would some kind soul take pity and illuminate my state of confusion (where I seem to have permanent residence status) and clarify what I need, or don't need, to do to avoid potential short issues?
Thanks!