01-30-2011, 10:31 AM
OK....Beginner's luck (generally bad.... :-( ). If you're sure the frogs are uninsulated (called "live" frogs) you will need to put a gap on the frog rails...The 2 leading away from the turnout. Since your track is already laid, that means cutting the rail joiners on the frog rails. You can use a Dremel tool with a cutting disk. Use very carefully and wear eye protection. Those little disks tend to break quite easily. If no Dremel is handy, use a track cutting saw...NOT a hacksaw...Once you've cut the gaps, insert a styrene spacer in there to prevent the gap from closing. You can use CA to hold it in place. Trim the spacer so it doesn't interfere with the wheels and cause a derailment.
You have several feeder wires which is good, but in some places you will need to add jumper wires because the track beyond the frog might have gone "dead" after cutting the gaps. Be VERY certain that all your feeders from your DCC panel's "A" output a go to the "inside" rails, and the "B" output goes to the "outside" rails. If they're not, you're causing a short circuit right off the bat, and no amount of gap cutting or jumpers is going to fix it. You should check this before you go cutting any gaps. Wiring for DCC is easy...if done right.
You have several feeder wires which is good, but in some places you will need to add jumper wires because the track beyond the frog might have gone "dead" after cutting the gaps. Be VERY certain that all your feeders from your DCC panel's "A" output a go to the "inside" rails, and the "B" output goes to the "outside" rails. If they're not, you're causing a short circuit right off the bat, and no amount of gap cutting or jumpers is going to fix it. You should check this before you go cutting any gaps. Wiring for DCC is easy...if done right.
Gus (LC&P).