DCC and turnouts

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Insulated frogs or power-routing frogs, which to use and what application on a DCC layout? Do I need one type or the other? A long time ago( in a galaxy far far… you get the idea) I used Peco on a DC layout but this will be first new layout in over 20 years and I haven’t kept up. Need advice.

2

Insulated frogs for DCC I believe.

Bill

3

I use insulfrog turnouts on my DCC. Peco brand works good. I have quite a few Atlas turnouts that work well too. Alot of people recomend power routed frogs, but they require alot of wiring and modification to overcome power issues. So, it depends on who you talk to regarding technicalities of power.

4

Actually, you can use power-routing frogs with DCC with little or no problems, so long as you follow a couple of simple rules:

  1. Power the turnout from the point end.
  2. Put a gap between any turnouts that form a frog-to-frog crossover.

So long as your method for throwing the switch ensures that there’s a tight connection between the points and the stock rail (i.e., a Tortoise machine or something like a Caboose Ind. manual throw), you shouldn’t have any shorting problems.

5

now available in DCC friendly version from shinahora.

6

Last year we installed Peco Electrofrog turnouts on our layout in anticipation of going to DCC. At present we are still DC, but not for too much longer. We used the Caboose Industries ground throws with the built-in SPDT switch to power the frog. It isn’t that much extra wiring. Now, there are turnouts that are built for DCC, meaning that the point rails are the same polarity as the stock rails - ALL the time! Wow, that’s what I would use now if I started over. We have not had a problem with shorting - yet. I really don’t expect a problem, either. If there is one, it is a simple matter to modify the offending turnout in place so that the point rails are the same polarity as the stock rails. I personally don’t like insulated frogs because they leave a dead spot in the middle of the turnout. I have several small, 4-wheel engines that I do not want to pu***hrough any turnout under any circumstances. I also want to run them slowly. If your engines are large, and your speeds are a little fast, then insulated frogs are for you. But if you change your mind later, you’re sunk.

Mark C.

7

I use isolate the frogs in my home-built turnouts, but I power them through switching contacts on the Tortoise motors. I prefer not to have even a short section of dead rail, especially when using DCC sound.

So long,

Andy

8

Inuslfrogs work fine as long as you’ve got enough pickup on your locos to pull them over the dead frog. Otherwise, you better listen to Andy.

9

thanks everyone