Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
dcc switches
dcc switches
429 views
2 replies
Order Ascending
Order Descending
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
dcc switches
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 1:27 PM
I am currently laying out my track on my first layout. I am using atlas code 83 track along with atlas snap switches. I am using dcc mrc advance prodigy for my power. Do I need to need to make any adjustments with insulating jointers at certain points when using dcc and these switches? My layout is basically a oval with a branchline to the inside. (madison Cenrtral) Or can i just use normal jointers for it all? I have read about insulated frogs etc but dony clearly understand....
Reply
Edit
MisterBeasley
Member since
December 2004
From: Bedford, MA, USA
21,416 posts
Posted by
MisterBeasley
on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 3:37 PM
Atlas snap switches are fully DCC compatable. You don't need any insulators, unless you are doing something which creates a "reversing loop" situation, where a train would come back on the same track facing the other direction. For example, if you have an oval, no problem. An oval with one turnout into a siding, no problem. An oval with a left turnout on one side and a right turnout on the other, so the train can choose either of two paths but will end up going the same direction either way, no problem.
Now, though, take a left turnout on one side of the oval, and another left turnout on the other side, and connect them with a straight track diagonally across the center. Whenever a train enters the crossover, it will come out going the opposite direction, so you have a reversing loop. Here, you need to insulate the ends of the crossover, and provide either a double-pole, double-throw (DPDT) switch to manually reverse the track polarity, or add a DCC Reverser module.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Reply
BR60103
Member since
January 2001
From: Guelph, Ont.
1,476 posts
Posted by
BR60103
on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:12 PM
Busteed: at which point don't you understand?
The frog is the place where the 2 rails cross in a switch. They can be made out of rails (brass, nickel silver, etc) or plastic. The plastic ones are called insulated.
The standard design of metal frogs has them joined to the points (the sharp bits that move) so that they are one unit electrically. If you feed electricity from the frog end, and the switch is set for the other route, you get a short circuit because the rail is joining both sides. (Situation: circle of track with one switch.) Needs an insulated joiner just beyond the frog.
In a plastic frog, the rails from both sides are separated by plastic and the short doesn't happen.
--David
Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
York1
see all »
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up