I am changing from DC to DCC and already have 24 Shinohra switches installed on the layout I am going with the Prodigy System, and from what I have read in their paperwork, I am going to have some problems with the Shinahora Switches. Has anyone had these problems, and what are they? Is their a solution to these problems. I would hate to think I would have to tear up this entire track and change to Atlas switches.
Thanks
Bob
I have Shinohara turnouts on my Digitrax layout. I gapped my track at the turnout to avoid any problems. I read on wiring website that we had to dismantle the turnouts to remove some metal clips to make them DCC compatible. Gapping them worked for me. On the main line, I have low level signals to indicate the direction of the turnout and operators know to stop at the signal if it is red, so hopefully no shorts.
Hope this helps…Ken
Ken,
Which rail did you gap? Did you have to gap the rail or rails on both ends of the swithch, and also at the end of the turnout? I keep hearing these stories of how you can burn up a DCC system by having the wrong switch.
Bob
I use the Walthers Shinohara code 83 turnouts and a Digitrax system and have had no problems. I cut the normal gaps at the frog ends of the turnouts and feed power from the points end. They work great.
Tom Watkins
If your switches have points that are electrically joined (usually stamped from one piece of brass) and you have metal wheels that are slightly narrow gauge or loose, you can get a short between the open point and the stock rail. The cure for this is a major rebuild – replace the points with separate pieces of rail, new throw bar, and pivot the points so they are isolated from the frog but wired to the nearest stock rail. You will now need extra wiring to power the frog.
Bob: I did it exactly as Tom did. I gapped all rails at the frog end.
Ken
For DCC and turnouts check out the turnout link at www.wiringfordcc.com everything is explained there.
With power routing turnouts (such as Shinohara), you will have problems (a short) in one of two ways. 1) If any metal wheels on your locomotives or cars are out of gauge and brush against the open point rail while passing through the turnout. or, 2) if a locomotive tries to run through a switch that is thrown against it.
A short will result in your DCC booster unit shutting down (no power to track). When the short is removed, normal operation can resume.
I had a friend who was going to modify all his Shinohara turnouts for DCC. It took him a long time to do a couple, this work was spread out over months. During that time he just ran his trains on the unmodified S turnouts and guess what - they worked just fine. So he has retired from the turnout modification business; if one gives him a lot of trouble he’ll modify it; so far he hasn’t had too.
New Walthers Shinohara turnouts are listed on walthers.com that are now DCC ready.
Jay.