I have a dozen or so “new” (never used" Walthers turnouts made before they began labeling them “DCC Friendly” and I’m wondering what’s the difference between the DC and the DCC version.
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Frank
For the Walthers/Shinohara switches:
“DCC Friendly” has each individual switch point riveted to a plastic throwbar.
“DCC Unfriendly” has each individual point soldered to a metal connecting piece that is in turn riveted to a plastic throwbar.
I haven’t had any particular problems with the latter running DCC (I’ve got both).
Ed
Thank you, that was exactly the information I was looking for. I’ll assume I’m safe installing my old style switches/turnouts in my yard based on your experience.
Thanks, that was very informative. The modification from old style to friendly represents more effort than I’m willing to put into so many turnouts. I think I’ll either live with the problem, focusing on correct wheel gauging instead of rebuilding turnouts.
Hello,
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The “NON DCC Friendly” turnouts have a solid metal frog that reverses polarity based on the point/throwbar position. The two inner rails also change polarity based upon point/throwbar position.
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This was called a “power routing” feature that was very handy in DC, because the spur would turn on and off based on the position of the points/throwbar.
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In DCC operation, it is very inconvenient to have the power turning on and off to spurs. The DCC Friendly turnouts do not route power to only the route that is matching the point alignment.
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There are ways around the problems and the earlier style turnouts can be made to work with a DCC layout just fine.
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Or… You can send them to me! I run DC, and I accept donations! [:D]
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-Kevin
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All turnouts work with DCC, some just may need some attention to make them comply.
It’s little things, like each point rail being connected to the closest stock rail, instead of both points connected together and using the contact with a stock rail to provide power.
This avoids the usual problem of having a wheel connect the stock and point rails and cause a short. Unlike DC, DCC doesn’t tolerate shorts well.
https://dccwiki.com/DCC_Friendly_Turnout
With DCC, properly gauged turnouts and wheelsets go a long way.
This is a problem that is easily solved. With DCC, you don’t use the power routing; you wire around the track switch. I’ve got both styles of switches, and I don’t use power routing at all.
And my layout can run DC or DCC, as I choose.
Ed