Hi,
What is the best way to wire Atlas code 83 switches?
thanks,
Chris
I don’t wire my Atlas turnouts, they work for me great out of the box. The smallest locomotives I run are 0-6-0s and they run without any problems. If you just want to switch the frog power there are a pair of holes at the frog that can be tapped for screws. I wouldn’t advise soldering to the frog, too much heat can damage the turnout.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
It depends on the switch. Some have insulated frogs, and those are a PITA to power the frog. The metal they are made of don’t take solder very well. All of mine have metal frogs with a small lug on the side to add correctly polarized power to them. I use a SPDT switch to change the polarity to the frog. The metal lug is untapped, so they must be tapped with a 1-72 tap.
I set the turnout in place and make a small mark right next to the lug. Drill a small hole at that mark. I strip a piece of 26 gauge wire and insert it through the hole, making the wire long enough to make sure it goes completely through the subroadbed, leaving about 6" of slack. Strip enough insulation so that after you attach it to the frog and pull it through the wire is barely visible. Once you ballast it, it will be barely visible. Solder that wire to a jumper will attach to the center lug on the switch. Attach jumpers from each rail leading to the non-diverging end of the turnout to the other two lugs on the switch, making sure that the polarity of the frog matches which way the turnout is set. I hope that helps. If you’re using Tortoise switch machines, they have terminals that will automatically set the correct polarity. Their instructions show the correct way to wire them.