Thanks Ed! That seems simple enough.

I have a question about cutting a gap into the rail, Will a metal wheel connect the rail on each side of the gap and cause a short?

Justin;

To answer your question about wheels causing a short as they cross the gap, the answer is no, unless you had metal wheels and axles that weren't insulated. Of course in that case, you'd have shorts every where.

The purpose of the gap or insulated joints is only to prevent a short in the frog that would result from power coming from the diverging track.

Probably better diagrams on the 'Net, but looking at this you can see where the short occurs without preventing the diverging routes from powering the rails. Believe me - just putting insulated joints or gaps in the two rails shown in the other diagram works just fine.[attachment=6856]

Justinmiller171 Wrote:Thanks Ed! That seems simple enough.

I have a question about cutting a gap into the rail, Will a metal wheel connect the rail on each side of the gap and cause a short?

Only if you run into a turnouts that is lined towards the other leg of the turnout - the one you are not going to take. If the turnout is lined for the path you will be taking, the frog will be at the same polarity as the rail on the track you are about to enter from. The gaps or insulated joiners are there to prevent shorts on the path the turnout is not lined for.

And of course, if the turnout is lined the other way, you are likely to derail anyways - which may or may not cause a short :-)

Smile,
Stein

A few days back you posted with the same problem and were given all of the "fixes" you needed to do. You responded that you had done so, and that you were up and running. So what changed now...??
All the turnouts on my layout (40+) are not DCC friendly, but were installed as per the method I described to you back then. Not a single spot of trouble from them.
You have to learn not to take "shortcuts" when it comes to having a trouble-free layout. Do things right the first time and you'll be all set.

Gus:You have to learn not to take "shortcuts" when it comes to having a trouble-free layout.
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I been taking shortcuts for years and had trouble free layouts..The key is to know what shortcuts work and which won't.
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Ed,As soon as I seen North and South rail on the diagram I knew a railroader made the reply.

I have been watching and reading as this whole thing has been "progressing."

I have to join in lock step with Steamtrains ...

Slow down ... this is not a race ... it is a hobby ... enjoy it!

Don't rush through a job quickly just to get it checked off as "done."

Take your time,

Check your work as you go,

Do it right the first time!

Justin, As Koos pointed out, I learned how to wire my turnouts here:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm">http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm</a><!-- m -->

Just pick which turnout you have and follow all the procedures. It is a bit time consuming and you will learn some new skills, but they will work correctly and last a long time.
Time put in on the front end will save you hours of frustration on the back end.
Keep the posts coming and stay with it!

John

Justin,

Like Bill said don't be in ahurry. Our layout is just starting to take shape (benchwork) and we have been planning it for 10 years. This isn't a race. If it was, you'd still be ahead of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justin;

Was wondering if you got your short circuit problems resolved. Looking forward to seeing how your layout is coming along.

FCIN Wrote:Justin;

Was wondering if you got your short circuit problems resolved. Looking forward to seeing how your layout is coming along.

Sorry for late reply, but I have been experiencing some awful weather here and I have been having lots of power outages .

I did figure out what was causing my short-circuts, I need to isolate the frogs but I don't have a tool to cut the rails yet.

Due to the bad weather I have been having my roof leak quite alot and it's leaking on top of my layout . I have a bucket set up to catch the water, but I can't really work on the layout until the weather improves.

A leak over the layout, doesn't sound good......you may want to fix that before you continue with modeling.

Justin, am I remembering correctly that you are still living with your parents at home? If that is the case, you probably are not in a position to have the roof fixed, but I hope your parents get it fixed. Isn't Paradise, Ca in the extreme northern part of the state with rainfall averages more like Oregon than is typical of so Cal?

Russ Bellinis Wrote:Justin, am I remembering correctly that you are still living with your parents at home? Isn't Paradise, Ca in the extreme northern part of the state with rainfall averages more like Oregon than is typical of so Cal?

Yep, I am only 17 so I am still going to be living with my parents for another year or two, Depending on how the economy is.

Russ Bellinis Wrote:If that is the case, you probably are not in a position to have the roof fixed, but I hope your parents get it fixed

My Dad tried to fix it a few weeks ago by spreading a layer of some type of goop across the roof, Unfortunately that didn't work.

Russ Bellinis Wrote:Isn't Paradise, Ca in the extreme northern part of the state with rainfall averages more like Oregon than is typical of so Cal?

Paradise is in the Mid-Northern area of the state, I am closer to Sacramento and Reno then I am to the Oregon Border. We usually see a good amount of rain during most of the year except for Summer, in which we see almost no rain at all.

It looks like I am not going to be able to work on the layout for a few months due to the leaking on the layout.
I have been thinking that I could remove the part of the layout that is being leaked on, and build a layout just using the two HCDs that are across one of my walls.
Or I could just remain patient and just build freight-car and structure kits until summer comes.

Justinmiller171 Wrote:It looks like I am not going to be able to work on the layout for a few months due to the leaking on the layout.
I have been thinking that I could remove the part of the layout that is being leaked on, and build a layout just using the two HCDs that are across one of my walls.
Or I could just remain patient and just build freight-car and structure kits until summer comes.

Justin;
Which part of your current plan was not effected by the water leak?[attachment=7018]If it's the upper portion of the plan, couldn't you just go ahead and work on that and allow for adding the wing at the right once you get the leak problem fixed?
Of course using the time to work on your freight car fleet or build some structures would put your time to good use too, but being able to actually do some switching on whatever part of the bench work you can use would probably keep your interest peaked.