It’s been awhile since I added a DCC Friendly switch to my HO layout. The switch is within easy reach and merely opens the mainline into a yard so it’s just easier to hand-throw the switch rather than use a switch machine. So … I know eough to run a wire from each stock rail to the corresponding bus wire. Are some of my locos (depending on length, wheel arrangement) likely to short out on the frog? This is the newest Walthers DCC Friendly switch so it has the tab connected to the frog for use in wiring. If I was using a Tortoise switch machine … where would I wire the frog to? If I don’t use a switch machine, is there anyway to prevent locos from stalling on the frog. Thanks in advance for any help.
One way to energize the frog in DCC is to get a Tam Valley frog juicer which is wired to the main bus and the run the single wire to the tab. It will control the polarity for you. Snicker snack.
DCC-friendly means that what the builders intend/hope. In my brief 16 year hobby history, it ain’t necessarily so. Despite what their best guesses, hopes, intentions, and determinations were when they gave the go-ahead for production based on set of specification, the fact is that each locomotive and item of rolling stock, even an individual axle’s say-so, trumps everything the first time they roll over the points, the closure rails, and then traverse the frogs. If that setup works, great. If it doesn’t, and you get a short, you’ll have to:
a. check wheelset gauge;
b. check flange gauge using NMRA tool;
c. probably just paint past the black spacer/insulator outward on the frog rails for another 0.25" with clear nail polish. Repeat when the shorts start up again.
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This site will help you understand DCC Friendly turnouts
https://wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
I’m not sure it covers the latest Walthers turnouts, but I will take what you say, that the have a tab to connect the frog, to mean they are not power routing and the frog is electrically dead. There won’t be any shorts on a dead frog.
Whether your engines stall or not depend on the wheel base, whether they pick up from all wheels (older locos do not) and the length of the frog, the higher number the turnout, the longer the frog.
There is a caboose industry ground throw that has a switch, that will power the frog. That is one of the cheapest ways to go. Some people connect the throw bar to and actual slide switch, but that is caboose ugly.
Tortoise or Walthers switch machines are an elegant solution, but quite a bit more expensive per turnout. You need a switch to activate the tortoise, a separate power bus to power the tortoise.
You could add current keepers to all your locos and they would not stall, also not the least expensive solution.
Walthers specific information:
https://wiringfordcc.com/switches_walthers.htm
I note Walthers now says their turnouts are “snap action” by which I assume spring loaded throwbar for the point rails.
DCC friendly refers to non power routing non powered frog.
It is a rare modern locomotive that needs a powered frog.
Electrofrog style turnouts frogs powered from the diverging rails are now just a pita. After forgetting to isolate the diverging rails on an electrofrog I wasted half an hour trying to trace a short, caused by the electrofrog. They are just a dumb idea and Peco agrees, the Unifrog will replace the Electrofrog quite soon.
Micro engineering dead rail diverging rail turnouts are just plain weird.
DCC friendly actually means a sane, sensible design. No special wiring is required.
This is a very conservative hobby. You’ll get a variety of opinions often very firmly held and didactically expressed. It’s all nonsense. Powered frogs are needed only for outdated locomotives. Power routing turnouts are of limited utility nowadays.
Thank you everyone both for responding so quickly and for the different perspectives … all of which are helpful. You’ve given me enough information to make me dangerous … If this hobby wasn’t challenging, what would be the point. And it doesn’t take much to challenge me … so thanks!
DCC Friendly Walthers/Shinohara turnout:
Old Style Walthers/Shinohara turnout:
-Kevin