I am fairly new to the hobby and I am ready to start my first layout. I would like to know what the differences between electro and insulfrogs are. I plan to use the new code 83 peco switches. My layout will be DCC and will run present day with big engines. Which would be recommended.
It is personal choice. I like electrofrog, which requires gaps in both rails just past the frog.
someone correct me if i am wrong, insulfrogs only carry the power in the direction that the switch is thrown while electrofrogs power both routes continuously.
It would depend on the way you want to run your track/trains as to which would be recomended for various situations although with DCC generally I would say electrofrogs for continous power throughout…
be safe and have fun
karl.
Thanks guys, probably will go with the elecro.
Jerry
If you are talking Peco:
In the electrofrog, there is a continuous circuit of both points and the frog. The two rails that the switch is not set for are the same polarity and will cause a short circuit if not provided for. (Plastic rail joiners beyond the frog) With DCC, metal wheels can touch the point and the stock rail at the same time and short out your whole layout. There is a cure for this with extra wiring. (See the Loy’s Toys website.)
In the Insulfrog the point and the rail to and beyond are continuous, but not connected to the other point. If the point is not set for that route, it is dead (neither + nor -). It can be fed from the other end. This makes it easier to wire and also eliminates certain shorts with DCC.
Most brands of switches work this way.
Snap track switches, however, have all rails powered, all the time.
Plastic frog switches can cause stalling problems with shorter locos.
Keep it simple - go INSULFROG with DCC. With DCC you have no need for power routing. Since there is no power routing going on the track maintains it polarity plus you will eliminate a potential shorting problem. A previous reply noted LOYS TOYS for info and I agree for an excellent in depth discussion.
I debated this issue in my brain for quite awhile until deciding to go with the insulfrog. I use atlas and peco switches. No particular reason. The only concern for me was with some older engines or smaller ones hitting a dead spot at low speeds.
To deal with this, as I converted engines over I wired them so that all wheels are hot, or send power to the decoder. A small ahm plymouth even runs over the switches without problems.
Plus and minus for both types, personal preference in the end. Insulforg was less work for me.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htm
This is the definitive site for wiring information on the net. I decided to choose Insulfrog and have had no problems, and I run several switchers without any stalling.