Poll on Turnout Control Preference

[Anonymous]

For non-DCC the all-live frog selective power routing feature is nice for yard ladders, but if only the points are used for power routing they need to be cleaned periodically. To avoid this maintenance nightmare auxiliary contacts are often mechanically linked to the throwbar, either in the remote controlled switch machine or added alongside or under the table, or may be embedded in the ground throw if used.

Where space is tight (crammed yard, N scale) and remote machines/control panel or operating ground throws just won't fit, I wonder how many of us use the finger-on-the-points method and can't be bothered with the mechanical hassles of installing auxiliary contacts?

I think I got all possible combinations listed. Let me know if I missed any.

[Anonymous]

For non-DCC the all-live frog selective power routing feature is nice for yard ladders, but if only the points are used for power routing they need to be cleaned periodically. To avoid this maintenance nightmare auxiliary contacts are often mechanically linked to the throwbar, either in the remote controlled switch machine or added alongside or under the table, or may be embedded in the ground throw if used.

Where space is tight (crammed yard, N scale) and remote machines/control panel or operating ground throws just won't fit, I wonder how many of us use the finger-on-the-points method and can't be bothered with the mechanical hassles of installing auxiliary contacts?

I think I got all possible combinations listed. Let me know if I missed any.

[rogerhensley]

The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..

Oh, well.

[rogerhensley]

The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..

Oh, well.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rogerhensley

The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..

Oh, well.

Trouble is the poll tool does not do setup for multiple responses; even holding the ctrl key or shift key does not allow this. Best if you have multiple responses to respond with a message just as you did. Thanks -Glen

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rogerhensley

The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..

Oh, well.

Trouble is the poll tool does not do setup for multiple responses; even holding the ctrl key or shift key does not allow this. Best if you have multiple responses to respond with a message just as you did. Thanks -Glen

[Anonymous]

I dont even know what all that means!

[Anonymous]

I dont even know what all that means!

[der5997]

rogerhensley says it for me
The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..
That's exactly it. I like to hand throw as i follow my trains around. I have to have remote for certain situations (hiden storage tracks, etc.)
I think I'll need some contacts for reverse loop automation.
Signal circuits may be non prototypical, showing reverse loop polarity , but will still nedd contact on the switches, manually thrown or not, and so it goes.

[der5997]

rogerhensley says it for me
The problem with a poll like this is that I use remote with contacts for signals and remote with contacts for power routing and manual with no power routing and ... well. you get the idea. They are ALL my preferences depending upon where the turnout is and what is necessary. for the railroad..
That's exactly it. I like to hand throw as i follow my trains around. I have to have remote for certain situations (hiden storage tracks, etc.)
I think I'll need some contacts for reverse loop automation.
Signal circuits may be non prototypical, showing reverse loop polarity , but will still nedd contact on the switches, manually thrown or not, and so it goes.

[Anonymous]

I haven't voted yet for two reasons, what my preference is and what I use are two different issues. Secondly, how can you have power routing with manual throws?

[Anonymous]

I haven't voted yet for two reasons, what my preference is and what I use are two different issues. Secondly, how can you have power routing with manual throws?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48

I haven't voted yet for two reasons, what my preference is and what I use are two different issues. Secondly, how can you have power routing with manual throws?

Same here, not happy with what i'm using and looking for something better and easier.

Turnouts such as Peco electrofrog or Micro-Engineering selectively route power from the points to one of the two diverging routes regardless of whether remotely or manually operated. The poor reliablility of this can be overcome with the aux contacts of a remote switch machine, but for manual the aux contacts must be added externally, either by a microswitch linked to the throwbar, or contacts in the ground throw.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48

I haven't voted yet for two reasons, what my preference is and what I use are two different issues. Secondly, how can you have power routing with manual throws?

Same here, not happy with what i'm using and looking for something better and easier.

Turnouts such as Peco electrofrog or Micro-Engineering selectively route power from the points to one of the two diverging routes regardless of whether remotely or manually operated. The poor reliablility of this can be overcome with the aux contacts of a remote switch machine, but for manual the aux contacts must be added externally, either by a microswitch linked to the throwbar, or contacts in the ground throw.

[Anonymous]

Didn't realize that there were so many ways to wire for turn outs. Kind of makes your head hurt just thinking about it.

Judy

[Anonymous]

Didn't realize that there were so many ways to wire for turn outs. Kind of makes your head hurt just thinking about it.

Judy

[Anonymous]

I use PECO insulfrog code 100, Number 4, 6, curved and Ys, totalling 92 in all. Contact thru the frog are made by the points and the snap action helps keep the point againts the selected diverging track, there is also a small tab under the point that provides contact to the adjacent track (You have to make sure that the contact is positive), switch machines are used troughout aided by capacitor boosters in sets of 5 to 10 by booster. the advantage of PECO turnouts is that it can be thrown manually during switching without any harm to its mechanism. I use DCC by NCE and run three locomotive consist at a time.
Take care

imnoldman

[Anonymous]

I use PECO insulfrog code 100, Number 4, 6, curved and Ys, totalling 92 in all. Contact thru the frog are made by the points and the snap action helps keep the point againts the selected diverging track, there is also a small tab under the point that provides contact to the adjacent track (You have to make sure that the contact is positive), switch machines are used troughout aided by capacitor boosters in sets of 5 to 10 by booster. the advantage of PECO turnouts is that it can be thrown manually during switching without any harm to its mechanism. I use DCC by NCE and run three locomotive consist at a time.
Take care

imnoldman