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Kato Unitrack and power routing turnouts

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Franklin, OH
  • 153 posts
Kato Unitrack and power routing turnouts
Posted by rrlcommish on Sunday, April 5, 2015 10:10 PM

Just completed my track work for my new layout, trying Kato HO Unitrack for this one.  It appears that the #4 turnouts are power routing with no way to change, but the #6 turnouts give you the option (and are factory set for power routing).  I am hooking the layout up to a Digitrax Zephyr, so do I leave them set to power routing?  I still struggle with the difference and why it matters for DCC.   Any advice is appreciated.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 6, 2015 12:39 AM

I don´t think it really matters, unless you want to leave a sound loco sitting idle in a siding and listen to the sound, while another train is passing. And, of course, the light is off.

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • From: Mesa, AZ
  • 1,530 posts
Posted by RideOnRoad on Monday, April 6, 2015 5:52 PM

I think you need to use insulated joiners on the "outbound" ends of the turnout to prevent a short.

Richard

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 2:00 AM

Nope, Richard - you´d need them if it were Peco switches. But that would go for DC as well. How do I know? I have built a small N scale layout, using Kato Unitrack, and operated it with DC and DCC.

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • From: Mesa, AZ
  • 1,530 posts
Posted by RideOnRoad on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 2:49 PM

I am happy to stand corrected by the master.

Richard

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