Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
DCC and Tortoises w/Peco switches
Dick has an HO layout and has four detailed questions and is hoping readers will be able to advise him:
I have pretty much decided on NCE DCC PowerCab (other consideration is Digitrack) with Peco switches and Tortoise (or?) switch machines on a very small (10’x10’) HO layout. The rough plan includes ~20 -25 switches (which includes double slips, 2 & 3 Y’s) a few Xings and 3 reverse loops.
I want to use DCC and will probably only run just 1 or 2 locos @ a time. I don’t have any long wheel base engines. It has been suggested that I use Tortoise switch machines for ease of installation, operation and simply more fun experience, but am open for other recommendations.
Here are a few questions that I specifically have.
1) Should I use Insulfrog or Electrofrog Peco switches? I have been told Insulfrog is best but have read that elecros work fine. Does one or the other work better w/a particular DCC (NCE or Digitrack)? Is one or the other type of switch easier to install and operate?
2) Do double slips, wyes, and crossings need special treatments? For example, I think that I was told that double slips need 2 Tortoise machines.
3) What decoders are recommended for Tortoise and DCC, or is there a particular one recommended for NCE vs. Digitrack?
4) Can NCE or Digitrack handle this setup better? From what I have read so far it seems that NCE has the greater flexibility and expansion capacity. I may not have read enough yet, so that is why I ask for input. I’m sure that it’s obvious that I’m a newbie in the hobby (out of it for 45+ yrs.). I look forward to reading responses, getting ideas/tips/suggestion/recommendations/cautions, etc. Your help is appreciated.
Add your suggestions below.
2 Responses to DCC and Tortoises w/Peco switches
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
hello,
electrofrog is better , for controlling the tortoise in dcc i use with no problem the nce switch 8 .
this product is very easy to use
http://www.ncedcc.com/pdf/Switch-8.pdf
regards
Pascal
Dick, I few web pages that will help you out are posted below. Just cut & paste them into your web browser’s address bar:
http://www.loystoys.com/peco/about-insulfrog.html
http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/model-railroad-wiring.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=BaSerNUUAZkC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=atlas+selector+wiring&source=bl&ots=zunAOQbmi9&sig=EtJg0SswS6rfqw9IIoGBam9opr4&hl=en&ei=PsVaTM9Wk6KxA7a_5OAN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=atlas%20selector%20wiring&f=false
I like the Electrofog type of switch because they look better and locos has less of a tendency to stall at frogs due to the all metal construction. This is nice in multi-switch slow speed applications like in yards or industrial areas. They also direct track power based on their switched position so in stub siding applications, they can allow one engine to be ‘parked’ in a siding while another runs by. I know that you can wire a layout for this to happen but the built in ‘switching’ ability makes things a bit easier.
The down side of Electrofogs is that they require a little more thought in how they are wired but if you stick with the basic rule of thumb of connecting your track power leads BEFORE the switch points, you’ll do okay. The attached web pages above explain this better than I can.
Hope this helps,
Geof From The US