I have 4 of these Atlas #850/#851 turnouts. I think I already know the answer, but just confirming that I will have troubles when the locos are crawling over these, they will stutter and/or just stop.... As these are not a powered frog.... Should I just not use these on my DCC layout?
i used atlas number six custom line turnouts on my layout, and although they had the capability of powering the frogs, i left them dead with no issues. even short little critters would easily run through the turnouts without problems
If the pickup is good on the trucks you should be fine. I had 15 fastracks turnouts thrown with caboose ground throws and never powered the frogs. Even my switchers ran through them.
All my turnouts are hand-laid using Fast Track templates or a fixture and I'm going to power all the frogs..................eventually. Right now some are powered and some haven't been hooked up to the SPDT switches that are activated by the servo throwing the turnout at this point. Most the locos that I've run so far get through but some much better than others. As was mentioned above some probably need some maintenance work. Regardless all the frogs will end up being powered. Fairly easy to do in my case since I already have the switches installed to do it, just need to finish the wiring. If I was buying turnouts they would have the option to be powered. In your case maybe try them or sell them or use them someplace that won't be used often. Sumner
Ok, I see that it might be possible. I will mock them up in a yard configuration on a test board. If they end up working without troubles, I'll lay them down on my permanent layout.
Atlas #4 turnouts, non-powered with no issues even with tiny MP-15 switchers, running DCC. I do have power drops to each of the 3 legs though.
thanks, that's another thing I was thinking about, the power drops on the turnout itself. saved me some time... I'll just go ahead and do the drops now.
I have 24 Atlas #4 and #6 switches on the layout- no issues with 4 or 6 wheel engines. If you are having stoppage issues check the flange diameter with a caliper. Only a few thousandths will break the connection. Alternatively, you could file the frog area slightly to increase the depth against the rails. My three PECO curved switches, on the other hand, gave me fits until I could rewire them (both Electrofrog and Insulfrog versions)- constant issues with continuity.
