Insulating Dead Frogs

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Probably a dumb question But If two switches are installed togrther without a straight run between them, how do you isolate?

2

both rails

Wolfgang

3

Are they point to frog, frog to frog, point to point? On many switches, especially those with dead frogs it doesn’t make any difference. Those that have live frogs need to be insulated.

Real quick rule of thumb, any rail that connects two live frogs needs an insulating gap in it.

4

I’m assuming you mean isolate as you would do in blocking and not insulate as you would do to keep the frogs from shorting each other, which with unpowered frogs isn’t needed anyway. Just gap both rail between the turnouts.

5

Glad to see the FROGS are still jumping. What I have done is: (2) turnouts to connect parralle tracks, both rails using the god old plastic joiners. Do not like the look (paint them). Turnout to a siding: BOTH ends of the siding and both rails. Why? Block transponders. Industry, again BOTH rails same reason Transponders. Another point is that I do not like to CUT both rails in a turnout.

A little design thought from Peco. They have you insulate just ONE RAIL on each leg from the frog these are the (2) rails that come OFF the frog.

The Turnouts I use are:

Peco Electrofrog, should have used these only. Atlas (frog problems with the Code 83) and Walthers Code 83. These are fine just hard to power.

6

Thanks-Only been modeling a year…Have two Atlas Code 83 turnouts down now and they work fine.