I have a feeling this topic will bring opposing opinions to the floor.
I am having extreme difficulty in trying to solder 22 ga copper wire to the frogs of my atlas ho turnouts. I am installing switch controls using three-way electrical outlets as shown in an MR article. This requires a lead to the frog if you want the frog powered alternately when the switch is thrown. Solder sticks fine to the wire, not so great sticking to the frog material. It’s been hit and miss and I have destroyed a couple of turnouts in the process. Even when it is successful I can’t really figure out what I did different to make it work that time.
So, I am wondering about possibly using a product called Wire Glue which is supposed to be a electrically conductive adhesive. Looking for pros, cons, advice,warnings, etc.
Try using some solder flux on the frog, it cleans and makes the solder flow like water. You might check out several other threads about frogs and turnouts where they talk about using screws.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
Solder will not stick reliably if at all to the Atlas metal frogs. You will need to put a small screw through the hole in the side of the frog and solder your wire to that. MR’s David Popp found this out in a recent MRVP. Trying to use an adhesive to attach the wire is asking for trouble.
I would be very cautious about trying to put much current through a conductive adhesive. In my case, the frog might be in the circuit with a couple of big, power-hog vertical traction motors if one of my EF-motors was crossing it. Read that as, well in excess of one amp at 12VDC.
As others have said, the Atlas frog is set up for a screw connection. Installing that screw is the only way I would fly.
Actually I hand-lay all my turnouts, and all of them have soldered rail drops. Atlas doesn’t meet my specifications for appearance or reliability.
JoeinPa and Guy, thanks for the information. I had some, but couldn’t remember the size. I insert the screw from the bottom, then mark where the screw hits the roadbed, and drill a 1/8" hole. I then solder a feeder wire to the screw head and pull the wire through the hole. Until I install Tortoise switch machines, I power the frog with a SPDT mini toggle switch.