This has probably been asked (and answered) before, but to save me wading through the topics can anyone tell me if I need to do anything to my Peco code 55 turnouts to make them DCC compatible? Thanks
Alan, depends on which type you have (electrofrog or insulfrog). Best bet, go to the Wiring for DCC Switches site and read up on the Peco turnouts, about a third of the way down the page. Basically, the Insulfrog are ready as-is, and the Electrofrog only need a few quick mods. Bookmark the site, it is very helpfuly with DCC wiring.
Thanks Corey, what an excellent, clear explanation and diagram for my electrofrog turnouts! The whole site will lead me safely through the transformation to DCC, I am sure Bookmarked!!
Peco Code 55 are all electrofrog. All you need to do is use the Peco nylon insulated rail joiners for the rails that are connecting to the two rails that make up the frog. Nothing else is needed....except you'll want to solder feeder wires to each turnout. You can also solder in some jumpers if you like... [ 24. February 2003, 15:19: Message edited by: Hoss ]
Depends on who you ask. Below is a diagram of the way I intend to wire my turnouts for DCC. I have been told that this will work, although there are more complicated methods that will probably work better. No rails need to be cut. Looking at the diagram below, the blue boxes represent insulated rail joiners. The yellow boxes represent metal rail joiners. As long as you insulate the frog rails as shown and as long as you don't try to go through a turnout thrown the wrong way then you won't have a problem with shorts circuits. The down side to the method below is that you are counting on the contact between the point rails and the closure rails to carry the current to the frog. This isn't 100% reliable. However, this is not much of a concern to me because I run modern 4 and 6 axle locomotives. Even if there is no electrical pickup over the frog I'll still be getting it from the adjacent rails. Very small locos may have problems if you're not getting good contact between the point and closure rails. Below is the way I intend to wire unless someone convinces me otherwise. Keep in mind that I'm new at both wiring for trains and DCC....so don't base your decisions solely on what I have said here. There are other more knowledgable folks who might offer better advice.
Here's a pretty good site for answering all your questions re: DCC wiring. DCC Questions & Answers. Another good site is Alan Gartner's Wiring for DCC Both of these guys are RKI's, as a matter of fact I printed out Alan's pages and used it when wiring my layout, (some pics on Trainboard at Freelance Forum, "DL&W" posts.) Alan is an engineer and is very exacting. His techniques will cause your layout to be 'bulletproof' electrically. Good Luck
