Can someone tell me how to wire this type of turnout. I seem to have a short and cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. Thanks[?]
Unless it’s one of the new DCC-friendly turnouts made for Walthers, the Shinohara/Walthers turnouts have “live” frogs that change polarity depending on which direction the points are thrown. You MUST NOT have power feeding into the frog side of the turnout from either rail that comes out of the frog. Usually the simplest thing to do is to use a Dremel tool and cut gaps in both frog rails (I normally place them a couple of inches from the frog). Hopefully that addresses your situation; cut the gaps and your short should disappear.
The Chap above is absolutely correct with reference to selective turnouts.
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Feed power from the point ends
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Place insulating gaps (or plastic rail joiners)between turnouts located frog to frog.
Ken
If you would like to take a look at http://www.wiringfordcc.com
Allen Gartner has dc/dcc diagrams with explanations for Turnouts. I believe it will be a big help to you.
Added Note: I use DCC and after having to modifying turnouts, it’s a lot easier to buy the DCC friendly.
REX[:)]
Be careful when you cut the rail…the shinohara ties break real easily! another thing you can do is insulate as above and then use a tortoise under the table switch machine which has a built in DPDT switch…that way you can power which ever frog you want wiring it to the DPDT switch…The Kalmbach publication, Easy Model Railroad Wiring has a diagram in it to show you how to wire it… Chuck[:D]
I have reviewed the wiring for DCC website and it lists things about turnouts that I do not have any problems with. I use shinohara #8 code 70’s no problems. Not sure why everyone else has issues unless its a lack of maintaining metal wheel sets.
when i bought my first one i had no problems. then i bought another one and it took almost a year of tinkering with wiring and plastic rail joiners to figure it out. now i have 3 and all are powered from the points and have plastic rail joiners on the frog end. if ever use them frog to frog this will work. if you use other turnouts in the same rail line you could have problems as i found this out the hard way. i have since corrected this problem by simply remembering to always leave the inserted turnout in normal route.