E197 Electrofrog modifications

[ajcooper4]

To resolve my derailment issue (well documented elsewhere on this forum) I hit on the solution of using a shorter point to give me an extra 50mm run in - straighter track entering less chance of derailment.

I bought an electrofrog E197. Now I’m ready to make the usual modifications viz: solder longer wire to the frog for the juicer, cut the bonding wires and solder across new wires between the outer and inner rails. But.....there are no bonding wires fitted by Peco - perhaps because it’s a shorter point. Should I ignore this and make the two other modifications?

Thank you.

[Forfarian]

Try here
https://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/DCC_Page_1.html

[Steve M]

The same question came up last month. Quite simply the modification is not worth doing on this point, just fit IRJs on both V rails and switch the frog polarity as usual.

[ajcooper4]

Thanks Steve, I did wonder. Just wire the frog to the juicer and forget the rest then? Apart from the IRJs in the middle obviously!

[Steve M]

Yes, just make sure the inside of the rails and point blades are kept clean and free from dirt and dust as that is the only way current will flow to the blades.

[Walkingthedog]

Do you only need frog juicers for DCC?

[Steve M]

You don’t ‘need’ them for DCC but they are far more reliable than some point mounted switches. They do not work on DC.

[Walkingthedog]

Thanks Steve. Just wondered how I’d managed without them.

[ajcooper4]

I started off with the peco micro switches (PL13) that physically mount under the points. Quite quickly they can become unreliable. All my new work I have fitted with Gaugemaster DCC80 - a relay switch essentially as I understand it. Easy to solder and fit, no physical connection to the point motor - just one wire soldered in from the frog. As the PL13s become unreliable I will replace with the DCC80 for sure.