I recently purchased (2) dcc friendly walthers shinohara #6 double crossovers....the first switch I installed would intermittently stop my locomotives when passing through the switch...using my volt/ohm meter I finally starting checking continuity between the point rails and the corresponding stock rail...these rails appear to be jumpered together underneath the switch via metal strips...and should show "0" resistance between the point rails and the corresponding stock rail...I found an "open" between rails on one part of the switch(infinite resistance on the ohmmeter... meaning, when energized, not all of the switche's rails would receive voltage...this problem drove me crazy...for a while..until it was finally found...check of the second switch found no problems...just a warning..if you get a complicated switch like the shinohara double crossover..do some simple checks before installing !!! (Walthers is sending me a replacement free shipping including return cost of the defective switch...)...
Captain Mike
Hi,
Check this site, they cover a lot of track problems and solution to make them DCC ready
www.wiringfordcc.com
They also give some idea on this site www.tonystrains.com
Good luck.
Marc
Check the wiringfordcc.com link above. It shows you how to fix problem.
Sounds like what you got was an old non dcc friendly turnout in the dcc friendly box. I sold off all of my double crossover non dcc friendly ones I purchased at Timonium one year before I decided to go to DCC. Upon installing six of the dcc friendly ones I have yet to have a problem with any of them. I will typicall though if you run short locomotives over any turnout higher then a # 4 you may experience a stall when you hit the frog. I posted a question about powering the frogs on installed Atlas turnout last week or the week b4 for this problem but I can say I have not experienced the stalling with the Walthers/Shinohara but they will get their frogs powered up as well. I know some say it's over the top or too much of an expense but I choose the HFJ Hex Frog Juicer from Tam Valley depot for this chore and think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Sounds like what you got was an old non dcc friendly turnout in the dcc friendly box. I sold off all of my double crossover non dcc friendly ones I purchased at Timonium one year before I decided to go to DCC. Upon installing six of the dcc friendly ones I have yet to have a problem with any of them. I will typicall though if you run short locomotives over any turnout higher then a # 4 you may experience a stall when you hit the frog. I posted a question about powering the frogs on installed Atlas turnout last week or the week b4 for this problem but I can say I have not experienced the stalling with the Walthers/Shinohara but they will get their frogs powered up as well. I know some say it's over the top or too much of an expense but I choose the HFJ Hex Frog Juicer from Tam Valley depot for this chore and think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
Thanks Marc...walthers sent me (2) new switches...they work fine....apparantly the jumper underneath the switch was broken/open...
With the track energized, I checked for voltage between the point rail and the opposite stock rail....I did this for all the point rails...there should be normal voltage between them...one of the point rails had no voltage...rail was "dead"....I suspect a cracked solder joint underneath...walthers sent me a new switch and it works fine....the switch is definitely DCC friendly ....the frogs are insulated...I don't run long steam engines so no problems...sorry for the long response time...
Capt. Mike
Nope...definitely a DCC friendly switch...frogs are insulated...I checked for normal voltage between all the point rails and their opposite side stock rail...all had voltage except (1) rail...I the checked for continuity between the suspect point rail and it's corresponding stock rail...which showed open (infinite resistance)...I suspect a bad bonding job for a jumper underneath the switch..walthers replaced the switch...and all is well...
Thanks for your input...
Capt. Mike...