I have a question about Shinohara code 70 switches - I picked one up to use for a code 70 laid siding - i noticed that there are no breaks at the point where the left and right rail converge at the top. So I used an ohm meter and sure enough the left and right rails are connected at the top - isn’t this a big “No No” for wiring a layout? If not isolated this would short out the whole block… why would they make the switch this way? I assume I need to cut either one or both of the rails and isolate them? Or use isolated rail joiners? I have never worked with Shinohara track other than Walther’s Code 83 - but those all have isolated frogs. Any suggestions?
You use insolated joiners on the frog end. These can also be made DCC feindly a lot of different ways.
OK that’s what I thought…
This construction method is still often used by people who hand lay their own turnouts, and “live frog/power routing” turnouts were the norm outside of things like Atlas or Peco insulfrog for many years. The rule was, and is, to ensure there’s a gap between any feeder and a frog rail. The idea has fallen out of favor with the spread of DCC, as running through a closed turnout will cause a short, and because long wheelbase locos can short across the gap between the point and stock rail, both of which that can have broader repercussions in DCC than standard DC. Another downside is that power to the point/frog assembly depends on reliable electrical contact at the points, or use of separate wiring to bypass the potential open circuit (e.g. a Frog Juicer).
It’s somewhat easier and quicker to build than a DCC-friendly turnout with gaps and jumpers. You can use a solid peice of metal soldered between the points to keep them in place.
Also, you automatically get a powered frog, which can be beneficial when using locos that lack power pickup on all wheels.
Since the turnout also functions as an electrical switch, you can use the turnout to kill power to tracks beyond the frog, assuming there are no feeders installed that would lead to a short. That kind of thing used to be pretty common before DCC since it was an easy way to shut off a track where a loco was parked. Some DC layouts still use that idea.