In my simplified drawing below, do I understand correctly that all I have to do is connect the feeder wires as shown? I’m using Peco Insulfrog turnouts and DCC. When is it that you have to gap rails? I understand gapping them is a way of insulating one section of track from another, but when do I do this? Is it mostly done in wiring for DC and rarely in DCC?
Thanks,
Jarrell
IF all tracks shown are in the same power district (not split across two or more boosters, or not split across two or more sections of a circuit breaker) AND there is no block detecion involved AND you are using Peco Insulfrog or Atlas turnouts - then yes, all you have to do is add feeders as shown. No gaps required.
Gaps would be required for DC to allow you to park a train on one track while another one passed by.
Gaps would be required on live frog turnouts because you cannot feed them from the frog end - look at which rails meet at the frog point and notice there is a feeder of each color touching - this would be a short. This doesn’t happen with insulated frog turnout.
–Randy
Thanks Randy. So… is an insulated turnout, like the ones I have, the ‘dcc friendly’ type? When is a turnout not dcc friendly?
If I’m using only one digitrax booster for the layout (the most trains I run at one time is 3), is that one power district?
Circuit breakers… hmmm… the only one I have at present is the one in the digitrax power pack. Do I need more?
Jarrell
The same is true of Walther’s “DDC Friendly” turnouts. I am going to be installing these shortly. So, somebody please correct me if I am wrong.
You know what this forum needs, and this topic. A road map for DCC and its intended use. You see I understand this, because I am doing it. However, I am a poor writer and can not communicate effectively what I can say. So I will try and give a sample of what I mean below.
If you are going to run a few trains, do not care if one train derails it shutting down the entire layout then wire this way with a single booster.
If you want to run 3 trains and not shut down the entire layout when one derails, use a circuit breaker and split into power sub districts. Which requires double gap (Gap both rails).
If you THINK, someday you may add block detection. Then wire from switch to switch as a separate bus, gapping only one rail, if within the same power district.
Etc, etc, etc,
Does this make sense, or have a totally confused everyone?
When people talk DCC Friendly the primary meaning is that the point rails have the same polarity as the adjacent stock rail. And not just when th epoint are thrown against that stock rail. For example, picture a left-hand turnout. Set the points so the train would take the diverging route to the left. There is a gap between the left point rail and the left rail. In a DCC friendly turnout, these will have the same polarity - the throwbar will be insulated.The thinkign is that the backs of the wheels could touch the point rail while on the stock rail, causing a short if the polarities don’t match and the wheels are metal. On the other hand - with proper size wheels that are
Those are ok too. You can usually tell by looking ar the poitn where the rails come together - if it’s insulated and the rails do not touch each other or the frog, it won’t need gaps. Really it’s just that the gaps are already there!
–Randy
Well, I appreciate you trying to pass on some knowledge. I think one of the things that makes it a little hard to understand is the terminology, as it is with most hobbies, crafts etc.
It’s only recently that I’ve understood what a bus is, I’m still working on power districts, block detection, double gaps etc… 
Some terms are universal when dealing with electricty and some are unique to model railroading. Right now I’m sitting here trying to imagine where you’d put the circuit breaker to keep at least part of a layout up and running. I guess most of it boils down to learning the basics.
Thanks for the help!
Jarrell
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker
When people talk DCC Friendly the primary meaning is that the point rails have the same polarity as the adjacent stock rail. And not just when th epoint are thrown against that stock rail. For example, picture a left-hand turnout. Set the points so the train would take the diverging route to the left. There is a gap between the left point rail and the left rail. In a DCC friendly turnout, these will have the same polarity - the throwbar will be insulated.The thinkign is that the backs of the wheels could touch the point rail while on the stock rail, causing a short if the polarities don’t match and the wheels ar
Here’s some nice color-coded diagrams that should make it clear: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
–Randy
Thanks Randy, I’ll read the entire site. Appreciate the help.
Jarrell