I purchased a curved trun out made by Shinohara and found out that it is shorted by the throw!!! Has anyone ran into this before? I find it very odd that they would manufacturer something that was shorted!!!
Did you insulate the frog rails? If not, you will have a dead short.
Everyone who has used Shiohara (or any other brand of hot frog turnouts - including Peco electro frog) is familiar with this, but it is not a problem it is by design. When the two opposing rails meet at the frog there is a natural short. This is why things like insulated rail joiners are made. The track connected to the frog has to be insulated from opposing voltages.
So each turnout must have an insulated rail joiner (or a simple gap in the rail) on the two rails that come out from the frog. Generally the frog is then powered by the points making contact with one or the other of the points end rails. The entire frog and both tracks up to the insulated joiners will be the same polarity.
thanks for the info! i just got my DCC up and running and then installed this curved turn out so need to get it isolated.
Hi Ron,
Check out this web site http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_walthers_old.htm
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_walthers_old.htm
It will tell you all you need to know and more about turnout wiring and modification.
BTW: solder work on turnouts takes a bit of practice before you become proficient.
I have many intermediate style Walthers TOs. I made them all at least “half DCC friendly” and the critical ones (sidings, loops etc.) fully compatable with the circuit board throw bars. Single ended spurs can use the TOs as is or half friendly.
Also the newer code 83 types come out of the box DCC friendly but the code 100s do not.
Good luck and have fun!