Paul, Your absolutely correct. It is the fault of the wheel gage and not the turnouts, and the problem is limited to the older equipment. I didn't want to mess with trying to regage the drivers and I locomotives ran fine otherwise. It's just the way I chose to solve the problem.
Bob On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 4:40 PM, Paul Vaughn <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Bob: What you describe is not the fault of the switch. It is the fault of > an incorrect check gauge of the wheel sets. > > I find most modeler's blame the track switch when something shorts instead > of finding out that the wheel check is not properly set. > > For me I build all my own switches built to the proper check gauge and > check each & every wheel set to make sure that the check gauge is properly > set. After doing both I do not have a shorting problem you describe. > > Paul > > --- On Wed, 6/8/11, Robert Frascella <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Robert Frascella <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Frog question > > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 1:14 PM > > > 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 > > > [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/
