RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
DCC friendly turnouts or not
GMD-1:
Thanks Alan, advice taken!
Dean:
--- Quote from: GMD-1 on November 24, 2016, 06:51:28 AM ---That is good to hear Dean. And I know what you mean about the copper contact strips. A lot of mine have broken, so I use our forum hosts manual switch machines with a DPST slide switch to do the power routing.
Another good article Tim. I only use B-B diesels on this current mini-layout, so perhaps I will be lucky like Dean. But not if it means risking frying decoders.
Richard
--- End quote ---
I have been using Penetrox A on the copper contact strips. [ https://www.amazon.com/Burndy-P8A-Oxide-Inhibiting-Compounds-Container/dp/B008KLX2RY ] In my 40+ years in the electrical field, this is the only joint compound I have ever used. On the copper strips it's a lubricant and enhances conductivity.
You can also use Penetrox A on light bulb bases to keep them from galling into the socket. You can use it on the battery terminals on your car to prevent corrosion. It also prevent threaded aluminum and stainless steel from galling together.
Some of these other uses help justify the cost of Penetrox A.
GMD-1:
My problem with the contact strips is that they broke or bent and bunched up behind the point rails. No Pentrox A is going to help there. It is just a temporary layout though, so no big deal.
Alan:
I am not a fan of relying on the internal shunts of commercial switches. Too many horror stories like the ones in this thread. Even though my layout uses exclusively Walthers Shinohara 88xx series DCC friendly switches which have no sliding electrical contacts, I still don't rely on the internal connections. Every rail, no matter how short, has a feeder. If you use WS 88xx switches here is an easy way to power the point rails - solder feeders inside the rivets on the throw bar.
Soldered rivets:
Point rail feeders from below:
With switch machine installed:
Often I hear people say they have a feeder on every piece of rail. I suspect they are talking flextrack. To actually live up to the feeder on every rail claim requires a boatload of feeders on turnouts. A regular turnout requires 9 feeders. A 3way requires 14 feeders. The feeders at switches begin to take on a look like this:
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