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Peco Electrofrog Turnouts
Christopher has this question:
“When I first got in to DCC I bought all electrofrog turnouts for my N scale layout. Then the guy at the Hobby Shop told me I should’ve used insulfrog turnouts. Is there anyway that I can still use the electric frogs? If so how do I stop them from shorting out the track?”
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Hi Christopher, I don’t agree with the hobby shop guy. I have installed Peco electro turnouts on my N scale layout (about 50) and they run perfectly. The polarity of the frogs are switched when the turnout is switched by a contact switch on the turnout motor. However, if you don’t want to do that, all you need to do is keep the switch rail and the stock rail clean so when they close together there is good contact, and the frog will be live with the correct polarity.
To stop shorting all you need to do is use isolating rail joiners where the frog rail joins the next piece of track (2 per turnout).
Insulated frogs will work but there is always the possibility of locos stalling on the dead frog.
Cheers, Garth
I agree with Garth. You can use either electrofrog or insulfrog with DCC. With electrofrog, you must insulate the track at the turnout end of the turnout, but this is the same with DC or DCC. There are usually instructions in the turnout packet.
If you didn’t get the wiring instructions, or have lost them, PECO’s technical staff can help you out if you email them or (possibly) make contact through their website.