Switches - Insulating and Polarity

[Guest Closed Account 1]

I was correcting the switches at the train museum last night and it dawned on me that there might be a another method to this.

 

Uninsulated Peco switches were used. To create gaps a moto tool was used to sever all 4 rails coming from the switch. Then joiners were stuck back in creating shorts. Ugg.

 

I managed to find these and leave gaps only on the two inside switch rails.

 

This is a DC layout is this correct for DC and DCC?

 

Eventually we'll run dcc so while I'm installing styrene in the gaps and soldering where necessary, I figure I'd do it right all at once.

[Dani]

It's correct also for DCC, only need to insulate two rails. I followed all the information from these two fantastic pages where you can find all the answers:

 

http://www.loystoys.com/peco/about-electrofrog.html

http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htm

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Frog Rails, that was the term and the two rails I used to solve the issues.  Thanks!

[KenS]

When gapping track like that, it's a good idea to super-glue a bit of styrene in the gap.  This keeps the rails from expanding into each other when the temperature changes and creating a hard-to-find short.