Making Turnouts "DCC friendly"

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I need to convert a number of Shinohara turnouts to “DCC friendly”. I recall the basic concept and steps (isolate the points and electrically connect them to the stock rails) but need a refresher on how to replace the electrical bridge between the points at the throwbar. So… two questions:

  1. I recall there was an MR article on this, but can’t find it in the Index. Anyone got a hint?

  2. Otherwise… what methods have you used to convert the bridge?

Thanks all.

Jim

2

I have both handlaid Fast Tracks turnouts and commercial ones, all “DCC friendly”. In every case, the obvious characteristic is that the points are not isolated, but the frog is. For the Fast tracks, the rails are severed on all four rails comprising the frog, but close to it to keep the dead section from being longer than the pickup base of any one engine.

For the commercial turnouts, if the points are isolated, don’t get power from copper strips below the turnout, and don’t seem to get power reliably from the stock rails, then tiny jumper wires are soldered from the stock rail to the points, and this would be best done where the points move less, rather than more…so near the frog.

-Crandell

3

DCC Friendly is meaningless…to me.

I have shinohara turnouts that are supposedly Non DCC friendly & a few newer ones that are DCC friendly. I didn’t do a thing to the so called “NON DCC” friendly turnouts and they work just fine. Matter of fact, I have more problems with the DCC “Friendly” turnouts because the stupid frog sometimes causes problems with shortwheelbase loco’s.

4

Jim, The article is in the Feb. 2001 “Model Rail Roader”. I have it right in front of me. Have done at least10 or 12 complete w/powered frog and hard wired point rails. It is kind of labor intensive, especially when done in place, but the results are bullet proof. If you need more info e mail me.

Hope this is helpful, John S.

5

Everything you need to know right here: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm

Keep your wheels in gauge (get an NMRA gauge if you don’t have one) and you will probably neve rhave a problem even if you don’t modify the turnouts.

–Randy

6

Hi!

Are the Atlas customline higher end turnouts ok for DCC as they come out of the box?

Thanks,

Mobilman44

7

Yep!

And if you are using the Tortoise slow motion machine (and several other turnout machines as well), it is quite simple to power the frog. I tap the little hole in the side of the frog for a 2-56 machine screw and wire it from the DPDT toggles on the Tortoise. Never have a problem with locos not being able to navigate the frog without stalling.