I have an Nscale layout using Peco #6 Insul-frog turnouts. I am also using DCC. My problem is with some engines not running smoothly through the Peco turnouts. In particular, my Spectrum 44Tonner and Paragon 2 sound engine will stall completely or stall and start up again when the trucks hit the frogs. This only happens with some turnouts, not all. Is there anything I can do to correct this? Thanks for any help.
When these locomotives stop, is it usually the same wheelset (front or back) on the insulated frog at the time?
I had a similar problem with a yard ladder during a recent install of DCC. Turned out that only one tender truck on the problem loco was actually putting power through to the decoder.
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
This is a common problem with Peco turnouts. The two rails coming into the frog are of opposite polarity. They are separated by a narrow gap by a thin piece of plastic at the frog. When metal wheels cross this gap, sometimes the wheel is wide enough to "bridge" the gap between those rails, resulting in a momentary short.
The standard solution is to take some clear nail polish and coat the rails for a quarter of an inch or so, just enough so that the wheels can no longer make electrical contact over both rails at the frog.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley The standard solution is to take some clear nail polish and coat the rails for a quarter of an inch or so, just enough so that the wheels can no longer make electrical contact over both rails at the frog.
How long does that last typically before a re-application is needed?
jwhitten How long does that last typically before a re-application is needed?
I think I did a few of these two or three years ago, and I haven't had to repeat it. It will depend on how busy that section of track is, and frequent track cleaning will wear down the nail polish.
MisterBeasleyThis is a common problem with Peco turnouts. The two rails coming into the frog are of opposite polarity. They are separated by a narrow gap by a thin piece of plastic at the frog. When metal wheels cross this gap, sometimes the wheel is wide enough to "bridge" the gap between those rails, resulting in a momentary short. The standard solution is to take some clear nail polish and coat the rails for a quarter of an inch or so, just enough so that the wheels can no longer make electrical contact over both rails at the frog.
Rather than use the nail polish method that can and eventually WILL wear away, I went the permanent method and took a fine triangular file and filed a shallow V groove in the flat top of the frog along the length of the plastic insulator between the two diverging routes of the frog. This allows the wheel tread to ride along the thin outside top of the V and the other side of the groove is to far away for the wheel tread to bridge the gap. Take care to make sure that it is only a SHALLOW V. It does not take very much filing.
Blue Flamer.