Oh dear ..... an electrofrog conundrum

[Bandit Mick]

It’s just not my day! Following my soldering disaster I finished the wiring and fired up my new layout. Power to every bit of track but 2 points are playing up. When set to straight ahead they are fine but when switched to the curved exit the locos stop on the frog. When pushed past they run again. The third point works fine in all directions. I went for electrofrog due to needing slow speed running. My other layout uses insulfrog points and worked immediately even with a Peckett. Wish I stuck with insulfrog. Any suggestions please before I throw 4 weeks work in a skip?

[Brian]

Hi
Ensure the factory fitted links are in place under the factory cut slots in the two closure rails approaching the frog. If they have been removed then the rails beyond the gaps out via the frog and to the the IRJs on the ends of the Vee rails will be dead, unless some form of frog polarity switching is used. Also ensure the moving switch rail is making a firm contact onto its stock rail when the two are closed together.

[Bandit Mick]

Thank you Brian - I’ll check another day when I come back to the layout rejuvenated and with fresh eyes. As I said previously, it’s just been one of those days.
PS My points are fresh out of the box.

[shroomy]

What are you using to feed the frogs ?

[Rog (RJ)]

Not running locos with the old pizza cutter wheels are you, lifting the wheels off the rails on the point?

[Bandit Mick]

Just using the switch rails to feed power as with my insulfrogs. Have droppers on the approach rails and my locos are modern Hornby and Bachmann. Wanted to keep wiring as simple as poss - been to so many exhibitions where despite all manner of electrickery many exhibitors still seem to have to intervene with a prod. Will have to go into a big sulk until I have time to try solving the problem.

[Brian]

If you're relying on just moving switch blade to fixed stock rail connection for power transfer through and out of the point you MUST ensure the inside face of the switch rail and fixed stock rail are spotlessly clean and a tight fit when closed together.

To prove,,,, wait until the loco stops on the point then with power still applied try carefully and gently closing up tighter the switch rail onto the stock rail by pressing or pulling on the end of the plastic tie bar that sticks out on the side of the point. If the loco moves off when the tie bar is held over more, then the issue is with the firmness of the switch rail onto the closure rail or the cleanliness of the two rails where they touch together.

This is the same whether its an Electrofrog or Insulated frog point.

Most users of Electrofrog points will improve the points reliability by adding as a minimum some form of frog polarity switching.

[Bandit Mick]

Thanks again Brian. Will do further investigation next weekend. Unfortunately can’t do so in the week as I work very long hours. The positive is only 8 days to go then I’m retired if I want to be. Roll on!

[Tricky Dicky]

Sorry if this is butting in on the thread, but I was wondering Brian if you could explain what the difference is between Peco electro frog points and Unifrog. I am hoping to use bullhead on a future OO layout so I have been trying to get more info.

What I have gleaned so far, and correct me if I am wrong. Firstly, unlike electro frog they do not need IRJs on the Vees with breaks just behind the point of the frog with only the very tip of the frog switchable. Secondly, there does not seem to be any closure rails with the switch rails hinged just below the frog So it does not seem possible to split the closure rails and bond the switch rails to their respective stock rails and there is no provision to do that such as splittable gaps. Finally, to make the frog switchable is it just a case of connecting a changeover switch to the frog and two stock rails?

Reliability wise how do they compare to modified and switched frog electro frog turnouts or is it early days yet to make comparisons?

Richard

[IanS]

https://dccwiki.com/PECO_Unifrog#:~:tex ... %20routing.