Roger: Thanks for your vote. I did forget to pass on one helpful hint, learned through personal experience. If you are going to power-route the frog, minimize the length of rail that is powered by the frog. On some of my power-routed turnouts, for convenience, I have inserted insulated rail joiners at the ends of the two rails extending out from the frog. This technique provides the proper insulation for wiring the turnout, but it extends the "frog zone" several inches out past the physical frog. In this case, it is very easy for a locomotive approaching the turnout set against it to create a short long before the engine reaches the frog.
Dan Vandermause --- In [email protected], "Roger Nulton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > You have my vote, Dan. Also because you have a very nice S Scale layout. > > Most of my turnouts are #8 or longer. My layout is divided into power districts, so if someone runs a switch, it only affects other operators who are within striking distance! > > But I understand your point now. Thanks. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Vandermause > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 2:40 PM > Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Ground throws > > > Roger: > > Although most operators are careful enough to avoid running entirely > through a turnout thrown against them, it is actually fairly easy to > let your engine drift into the powered frog area, causing a short. > With DCC, this minor infraction will shut the system down, and then > all the operators look around asking "Who did that?". > > Now, at the risk of sounding like a politician, I must flip-flop here > and admit that I usually power-route my frogs on #8 turnouts out on > the mainline, using the Tortoise switch motor contacts. Since the > frog is longer on the #8 turnouts, I like to power route those frogs. > > However, Bill Lane's original question was how to wire a turnout > simply and reliably on a module. If you hard-wire the points/closure > rails, and leave the frog dead, the turnout has a solid electrical > path everywhere (but the dead frog). The wiring could not be > simpler, and standard ground throws can be used. Most HO layouts use > dead frog turnouts with no problems. > > So, to summarize my position, I am in favor of dead frogs, and I am > also in favor of live frogs. Ask me again tomorrow, and I reserve > the right to change my answer. Please vote for me. > > Dan Vandermause > > --- In [email protected], "Roger Nulton" <roger.nulton@> > wrote: > > > > Dan and Larry, > > > > Being new to DCC, I'm wondering why a derailment is preferable to a > short. I've found power routing the frog provides much smoother > operation through the turnouts, especially for sound, but then I'm > not always running modern locos. > > > > Roger Nulton > > Tacoma WA ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
