I agree with Paul to a certain extent that "DCC Friendly" is an HO marketing gimmick, but in S-scale it was a different experience for me. When I first converted to DCC I did so by buying SHS locos already DCC equiped. My existing turnouts were solid frogs and the electrical gap was at the points. Everything ran flwalessly. It was not until I started converting my older locomotives to DCC that I realized the advantage of having an isolated frog. I have two steamers that were built using SSL&S drivers that were made to a slightly different gauge and the driver wheels themselves were thicker than the more recent s-scale wheels. In addition, one of the two locomotives is a rigid frame 2-10-0 with 4 of the 5 drivers flanged and everytime it took the diverging route of a turnout, it would short against the switch point. In the old days of DC there was usually enough momentum to carry the locomotive past the short. But with DCC as Bob explained, it's a different story. So as much as a pain as it was to isolate all of my turnout frogs, it solved the problem for me.
Bob Frascella Wenham, MA On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 3:09 PM, Bob Werre <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Paul, You're generally correct but there is a problem that is called > "make before break" that pretty much effects only DCC systems because of > the quick acting circuit breakers. I had this happen with one of my > Shinorhara turnouts that was controlled by a slow motion machine. By > using the built in contacts combined with the slow motion, the contacts > were closed (making contact) on both ends for an instant--just enough to > throw the breaker and shut down that power district. It was solved by > ripping out the factory contacts, insulating the points and gaping the > frog; then using the polarity switch feature of the switch motor. > > So I'm not sure what the term actually refers to, but in my case it > certainly started out unfriendly! But like anything else in our hobby > there are solutions! > > Bob Werre > PhotoTraxx.com > > > On 6/8/11 1:48 PM, Paul Vaughn wrote: > > > > Chris and all: Please there IS NO SUCH THING A DCC FRIENDLY > > SWITCH!!!! The poliarty of the frog is the same for DC or DCC. It > > needs to change with the way the switch is thrown! Or if using DCC get > > a frog juicer and stop worying about it! > > > > Dcc compatable term was generated by some HO switch manufactures as a > > ploy to sell their latest version of track and switches. > > > > Paul > > > > --- On Wed, 6/8/11, Christopher Borgmeyer <[email protected] > > <mailto:cborgmeyer%40me.com>> wrote: > > > > From: Christopher Borgmeyer <[email protected] > > <mailto:cborgmeyer%40me.com>> > > > Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: Insulated frog question > > To: [email protected] <mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com> > > > Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 4:26 AM > > > > Ed, > > > > Not the worlds most user friendly website but a lot of useful info can > > be found at http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm You'll find an > > overview of making turnouts DCC friendly and their wiring on that page. > > > > Chris Borgmeyer > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ 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: [email protected] [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/
