Frogs

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

If one is running only DCC in your trackplan, is there a preferred type of frog to use, insulated vs. electrified? Or does it matter at all? Even if one is incorporating a Wye or reversing route?

Thanks for all the help. [%-)]

2

If you are running short loco’s with limited track pick up, go with electrified frogs. Otherwise it doesn’t make much difference. The big thing is small loco’s may stall out on insulated frogs because there is no power available to a wheel.

Some turnouts with electrified frogs may require an insulated rail joiner or gap on each rail going into the frog.

3

Personally, unless you are running locos with a very small wheel base, I would just go with dead frogs. It will save you alot of hasstle down the road.

David B

4

I use both on mine. You must be talking about Pecos. Insulfrogs are a lot easyier to use. The electrofrogs can give you a wireing nightmare if your not carefull. If you put a wye in you are still going to have to insulate no matter what frogs you use.

Pete

5

It’s much more easy to install electrofrogs at the beginning than to change dead frogs later when you buy a little small critter.

Wolfgang

6

I run one Atlas insulated frog #6, several Peco Streamline Code 83 #6 with insulated frogs, and Fast Tracks handlaid insulated frog #8’s. The only engine that ever gave me problems was a small SW8 with DCC/sound, but that changed dramatically when I switched out its traction tire axle set for straight metal tires. Since then, none of my 11 engines has any trouble whatsoever on those insulated frogs, even on the longish #8 turnouts. They all work like trouble-free dreams.

7

if you are using DCC there is no need to be frightened of live frog points as the track after them should/could have its own feed and not rely on the frog for power. the frogs need to switched, and isolated from the rails after them. it is also a good idea to modify points so the blades are insulated from the frog and they get their power from the running rail they close to. if you are really paranoid about it you could if you like isolate the WHOLE point with 6 insulating fishplates and power it as a single entity.