Dave, I had a suspicion on what the answer was going to be and asked the question in order to generate more discussion. I think Bill said that he does electrically switch the frog. My concern was that the point was so long and relied on rail contact for power rather than switching which creates ample opportunity for power loss over a distance that could hold all power pick-up wheels of a short locomotive.
I wired my turnouts the same as Bill except my point rails are much shorter than Bill's. Still, switching power to the points or hardwired to the stock rails if the points are insulated from each other is much more reliable as you point out. Ben Trousdale --- In [email protected], "David Heine" <davesn3@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > > > I assume your frogs are unpowered or powered by the points, since they > should be the same polarity. To get around relying on the points for power > contact, you could install a SPDT limit switch under the layout that is also > operated by your stall motor. Then wire the contacts to your points and > also your frog. This is relatively common and eliminates one contact > issues. > > > > In my personal case, I wire each point to the adjacent stock rail and switch > the frog(s) off a contact controlled by the switch machine or accessory > decoder. So far on this layout, I've built all the turnouts in place, so > this is easy to do. > > > > Dave Heine > > > > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Bill Lane > Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 6:11 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: a turnout photo is worth 1000 emails > > > > > > > > > Ben, > > > > The points are powered by contact pressure to the running rails because of > the stall motors. So far it has worked pretty well. But I have found myself > going in that gap with a Dremel wire brush when I think that might be a > stall issue.. To do anything else would be ripping out my brass throw bars > on 20+ turnouts (NOT something I really want to do!) in favor of PC ties but > then I can jump the points and make them hot too. We will see what a year+ > of running and maintenance makes me decide for what I have or for new > turnouts I want to install. > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane > > Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988 > > See my finished models at: > http://www.lanestrains.com <http://www.lanestrains.com/> > Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! > > > > See my layout progess at: > > http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm > > Custom Train Parts Design > http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Mo! deling.htm > <http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm> > > PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded > (Trading is MUCH preferred) > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls > > ***Join the PRR T&HS*** > The other members are not ALL like me! > http://www.prrths.com <http://www.prrths.com/> > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf > > Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society > It's FREE to join! http://www.prslhs.com <http://www.prslhs.com/> > Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL > ------------------------------------ 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/
