I have wires run to all my frogs that I would like to power and I run DC. If I was running DCC, this would not be a problem as I could just buy a frog juicer to automatically change the polarity of frogs. I have tried to get something similar in DC but you need a higher voltage to work. Was going to get a juicer and modify a switch to work but a slow moving freight would not have enough voltage to trigger it. This leaves me with a hard wire method. I have bought a lot of spst switches with center off, that I could use (was thinking of recessing them so no accidental shorts). Opinions
I do not think a ‘Frog Juicer’ type of unit will work(or even a modified one). With DC, you need to tie the polarity control to the individual DC throttle or turnout. The best way to do this is let the turnout control the polarity by using contacts on the turnout motor or a a separate switch. Caboose Industries has a ground throw(220S) with built-in contacts that will do this. Here is a link to the picture/description:
http://www.cabooseind.com/GroundThrows
Jim
RREBELL,
Too Bad,that you bought all spst,switches,because you need,DPDT,switches,for that to work…What kind of switch machines are you using??
Cheers,
Frank
SPST is all you need for the frog power - now you need to figure out how to move them with the switch points. A very common mechanical method is to use SPST slide switches with a control rod to the fascia and a smaller hole drilled in the side of the slider to hold a piece of music wire to operate the switch points. Center off is probably NOT the best type for something like this, unless you have a 3-way turnout - there is no middle position on an ordinary turnout and leaving one stuck there will guarantee a derailment.
–Randy
Turnouts are thrown by Caboose industries high level switch stands. Can not do a throw with power. It is a walkaround layout. Everything works without the frogs being powered but I can not always crawl though a turnout. Doing a juicer with DC could be made to work but my lack of electronics knowledge is obvious (you can install voltage boosters, forgot the real name).
RREBELL,
I would go with Randys,suggestion,and use that slide switch to power the frog and use it to throw the points,from the center of the throw bar,leaving the targets connected where they are…According to what I just read on their web site,‘‘provisions made so targets can be made to operate from below the table on electrically controlled turnouts,modeler must fabricate own linkage’’. So I WOULD SAY,IT WILL WORK,RANDYS WAY…
Cheers,
Frank
You can run the frog power lead to the turnout points. Just like the old DC turnouts like Sinohara put out. A couple of feeders from the points to the frog wire and the points will control the frog polarity. No switches to switch and automatic for your DC layout with almost zero cost.
Pete
??? These are shinohara. The point contacts are just not reliable enough! Linkage not possible.
SPDT, right?
Our club connected SPDT micro-switches to Caboose Industries throw bars for this purpose. We did not have the high level switch stands though. Just the ground throw type. I don’t know that those will work the same or not.
Perhaps the easiest thing to do would be to replace the Caboose ground throws witht he ones that have contacts built in. The next easiest thing would be to probably use microswitches instead of the SPDT center off switches you have. Third option would be the one I mentioned, replacing the Caboose throws with a homemade mechanism that uses the electric switches to hold the position of the throwbarr and conveniently providing contacts, but you’d probbaly want to swap them for versions that do not have a center off.
–Randy