Thinking of changing over to DCC control . Unsure if the insulpoints will allow
DCC control and the thought of tampering with points that small !!!!!!!!! .
Any help very welcome . Cheers john .
Insulfrog Points allow current to flow in the direction that the point blades are set too. When an Insulfrog Point is in use on a DCC controlled layout, all of the layout needs to have current, but an insulfrog will generally stop the current being passed through to say a siding (for example) because the point is set in the straight position.
Hornby do a small metal clip that is shaped like a "U" which is used to de-insulate OO points - you could replicate this with wiring, or you could just add more feeds where the insulfrogs will prevent current getting.
However, electrofrogs are generally a better bet for running in 009 and other small scales where such a section of dead plastic can cause locos to stop/judder, so you might want to consider in the long term changing to electrofrog anyway. I think (sorry if wrong) that all new peco 009 points are electrofrog.
Colin
and another thing...if you do go to electrofrog, don't listen to all the 'DCC friendly' garbage peddled on the web. Isolating the frog from the switch rails may be ok in OO, but in 009 there is not enough space between the frog and the pivot point of the switch rails to make a gap which allows the rest of the point to function normally.
Making a gap here will undoubtedly cause major reliability problems as the short length of rail left between the gap and the special fishplate that acts as a pivot is too short and this short length will waggle about. I've tried it and given up. I've asked peco if they might make this easier in future points they make and they said well, errr, maybe
Colin
Thanks guys , the extra feeds is the answer I expected and presume will have to accept a certain loss in operatioal flexibility . Which you already get with insulfrogs . Again many thanks .
Cheers john .
I quite agree with rhydddu009.... SDCC friendly points are not an 009 option and pointless anyway. Insulfrogs are hopeless for 009 too. I would always recommend using an accessory switch to change the frog polarity.
see
http://www.009.cd2.com/turnouts.htm (http://www.009.cd2.com/turnouts.htm)
JdF
speaking to a few people at the glasgow show yesterday , price wise I 'd
be talking around 40 to 50 pounds a loco for them to be fitted with a chip .
my electrickery knowledge would'nt fill the back of a stamp , so it's a non starter . but many thanks for your thoughts . john
fitting chips to most locos is extremely easy and can be 'done in the comfort of your own home'. Chips will vary in cost from about
Though I would not neccessaraly cut them too far back (or cut them off totaly) so that if you wanted to fit lights etc at a later date there are still some (short) wires there to link to. Just wrap them well in insulation tape.
Quote from: pilotfriend on March 15, 2009, 12:58
red and black to track
grey and orange to motor
I always remember it as:
Red and Black to the Track,
Orange and Grey the Other Way.
again many thanks for the info .
cheers clanky