Doughless richhotrain Doughless Never saw the point of electrofrog anyway. I don't have any Electrofrogs on my layout because I don't need live frogs. But, the Electrofrog is very useful if you need or want a live frog. As long as the inner frog rails are gapped, the Electrofrog works just fine. Rich I meant the point of needing live frogs. Other than helping short steam locos with bad pickup systems, I never understood the advantage. Not wanting to make a discussion here, just trying to stay in the swim lanes of the OP who seems to favor simplicity in this situation. Making sure the used turnouts are Insulfrogs would seem wise.
richhotrain Doughless Never saw the point of electrofrog anyway. I don't have any Electrofrogs on my layout because I don't need live frogs. But, the Electrofrog is very useful if you need or want a live frog. As long as the inner frog rails are gapped, the Electrofrog works just fine. Rich
Doughless Never saw the point of electrofrog anyway.
Never saw the point of electrofrog anyway.
I don't have any Electrofrogs on my layout because I don't need live frogs. But, the Electrofrog is very useful if you need or want a live frog. As long as the inner frog rails are gapped, the Electrofrog works just fine.
Rich
I meant the point of needing live frogs. Other than helping short steam locos with bad pickup systems, I never understood the advantage.
Not wanting to make a discussion here, just trying to stay in the swim lanes of the OP who seems to favor simplicity in this situation.
Making sure the used turnouts are Insulfrogs would seem wise.
Alton Junction
BigDaddyI came across a store that sells used trains and they have a bunch at $2.50 each!
Henry, if you can use them, I would snap them up.
If I found a source of used Walthers/Shinohara turnouts like I use at $2.50 each, I would buy them all. If only 1 out of 6 pass inspection for re-use, that is still quite a bargain.
I do not use Peco turnouts, but I know many who do, and they generally do not have any more complaints than anyone else.
Oh, I did use Peco turnouts on several N scale layouts with great results.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
- Douglas
I have Peco 83 Insulfrog on my layout exclusively. No shorting issues, I use normal joiners exclusively, and I add a feeder to the mid point of a runaround siding or spur to defeat the power routing only because I want to. Never saw the point of electrofrog anyway.
The design of the Peco code 83 may preclude you from doing some special niche things, but for average layout construction, they operate as well or better than others.
And the design of others preclude you from doing some other special niche things the Pecos don't.
The code 100 Pecos curved through the frog, so it might make for a wierd crossover if you use two together or one with another brand. For industrial spurs, in many ways, this design is better.
BigDaddyWhat I think I know: is they can short on the diverging side of the frog, they are power routing, one needs insulated joiners on the frog rails.
Seriously, unless there is something about them that would be a non-starter for you (sprung points, curved through the frog (code 100)), I would buy them up in a heartbeat. For what it's worth, I have somewhere around 50 Peco code 100 insulfrogs on my layout. They work flawlessly. I like the sprung points. Power routing doesn't bother me as I power all sides anyway. The curve through the diverging route doesn't bother me a bit. Don't even notice it honestly. Even if it bothers you, at 2.50 each use them in a staging yard.
Mike
If they have enough of them, buy them, you could always use them in a yard if nothing else but they are fine turnouts in general.
BigDaddy I have no Peco turnouts. What I think I know: is they can short on the diverging side of the frog, they are power routing, one needs insulated joiners on the frog rails. What modifications would I need or what downside would there be if I go with these for a DCC layout?
I have no Peco turnouts.
What I think I know: is they can short on the diverging side of the frog, they are power routing, one needs insulated joiners on the frog rails.
What modifications would I need or what downside would there be if I go with these for a DCC layout?
There are no modifications that you need to make to a Peco Insulfrog to use it on a DCC layout. If you plan to power your turnouts with switching devices (e.g., Tortoise), you can easily remove the throwbar spring. I leave mine in place and manually throw the points with a flick of the finger.
The title of your thread is Insulfrog, but in your question you mention the Electrofrog. The Electrofrog is also power routing and has a live frog, so you do need to gap the inside frog rails.
At $2.50 per turnout, I would snap them up.
BigDaddy I have no Peco turnouts. There have been many threads about insulfrog, electrofrog and unifrog, but if you have never used any, it's like a guy from Kansas reading about Sushi, who hasn't been paying attention. What I think I know: is they can short on the diverging side of the frog, they are power routing, one needs insulated joiners on the frog rails. I came across a store that sells used trains and they have a bunch at $2.50 each! They are used, some have soldering or removal damage that I don't want to deal with, but some seem like new. What modifications would I need or what downside would there be if I go with these for a DCC layout?
I have no Peco turnouts. There have been many threads about insulfrog, electrofrog and unifrog, but if you have never used any, it's like a guy from Kansas reading about Sushi, who hasn't been paying attention.
I came across a store that sells used trains and they have a bunch at $2.50 each!
They are used, some have soldering or removal damage that I don't want to deal with, but some seem like new.
Code 83?
I would pass because I don't like the wiring system or the little throwbar springs, but many people love them.
Code 100?
Pass for sure, they are curved thru the frog, unrealistic for North America, and have the same wiring/frog issues.
Sheldon
You'll be wanting some wasabi and soy sauce.
And a plentiful supply of good cold sake.
Ed
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley