Why adding power to the switch?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Why is it that some poeple say it’s better to take electricity from the track and route it thru the switch (turnout)?

I didn’t solder power (electricity) connections to my turnouts and none of my trains have problems with it. Of course I solder power feeder to the tracks ahead and behind the turnouts, but not to THE turnout.

So why add power to turnouts? Seems to me it’s quite the job…

2

…and I operate DCC. Don’t know if that makes a difference?

3

For clarification - Are you talking about “power routing” turnouts?

Andrew

4

Since you have track power wired with feeders, you don’t have to power the turnouts. Some people, including me, like to power the frog from contacts on the turnout motor. It is not needed except for some special things like old or “toy” type locos that don’t have good power pickup.

With any reasonably modern loco you don’t need to do that.

Ken

5

Sorry CN11, I misinterpreted your question. I’ve done exactly as you have done and have not experienced any problems.

6

Yes! Power-routing turnout. What is that for?:

No worry. Sometime I can’t explained things to myself either…

7

In power routing turnouts, the frog is not electrically isolated from the points. The electrical connections are made to the approach rails (either directly or through metal rail joiners). Thus the frog and the rails connected to it have the same polarity as the rail the switch points are against. There are at least three adavantages claimed for this arrangement. 1. There is no electrical dead spot in the frog thus locos with only one wheel pickup (or a short wheel base) don’t stall. 2. The track that is not selected is electrically dead because both its rails have the same polarity. Thus any loco on that track won’t move and a siding can be used to park locos. It also prevents locos from running into points set against them. 3. It looks better(more prototypical). If you use this, you must use insulated rail joiners on either diverging track before another electrical connection or completion of a circle with that track . Otherwise you get short circuits.
Enjoy
Paul

8

Thanks for the info.