point isolation please help

phil s · September 14, 2014, 07:45:00 PM

could someone please help explain to me which parts of these set of 5 points need to be isolated and which can heve metal fishplates on, once someone has explained in easy to understand then i will get it

do i need the put a small length of track between the 2 centre points and power it up

thanks phil

port perran · September 14, 2014, 07:46:51 PM

Is it DC or DCC and are the points insulfrog or electrofrog please ?

Sprintex · September 14, 2014, 07:50:48 PM

To me it looks like the two on the right and the one top left are electrofrog, the other two on the left are insulfrog judging by the big black plastic crossing vee

Paul

port perran · September 14, 2014, 07:55:58 PM

Ah....better eyes than me .

phil s · September 14, 2014, 08:04:00 PM

Quote from: Sprintex on September 14, 2014, 07:50:48 PM
To me it looks like the two on the right and the one top left are electrofrog, the other two on the left are insulfrog judging by the big black plastic crossing vee

Paul

going to make it dcc from the start off, i am very new to this and to be honest didnt even know the point were differant

thanks phil

phil s · September 14, 2014, 08:52:41 PM

so if i use all insulfrog turnouts then i dont have to isolate them but if i use the electrofrog ones then i need to isolate the the turnout v section

phil

Jerry Howlett · September 14, 2014, 08:59:30 PM

Sounds right but I play DC. so in your pick the right hand crossover would need all except the 2 outer rails isolated. Thats 4 isolated joiners. Live frog points are obviously better if you are running short wheel base locos say 0-6-0.

Newportnobby · September 15, 2014, 09:52:27 AM

Is the top track above the points a dead end siding or part of a loop, Phil?

phil s · September 15, 2014, 05:05:12 PM

Quote from: Only Me on September 15, 2014, 10:14:01 AM
However it's worth think about the fact that if you use Insulfrog plastic turnouts, smaller locos with short wheel bases will usually stall on them at slow speeds....

its going to form another loop

phil

Newportnobby · September 15, 2014, 10:01:02 PM

Hi Phil,

Is it possible you could show us the track plan by using SCARM or Anyrail free systems then we can advise what to put where. As Only Me says - I would standardise on electrofrog points to get decent running with small wheelbase locos.
As things stand, you need a feed between the top 2 points and insulated joiners between all the points apart from those 2.
If the topmost rail is a loop then you'll need insulated joiners between the point and the track forming the loop.