I've read that double-slip switches should be avoided when using DCC, and also that Peco Insulfrog turnouts are DCC friendly. So, what (if anything) has to be done to Peco Insulfrog double-slips to make them work with DCC?

-- Jim Dudlicek (jdudlicek@stagnito.com), October 09, 2003

Answers

Since a double slip is in reality two switches facing each other, you must obey the rules of turnout building. Never allow power to flow from the wrong end of the switch. In this case, since two switches face each other, one of them is always receiving power from the "wrong" end. Even though Peco has done some clever engineering to get around this problem, their answer is only a partial fix. It often fails due to derailments, wide metal tires, etc. The real fix is to cut a double gap in the middle, between the two switches, fill the gap with styrene and super glue, and then put power feeders on each side of the double slip. Thus the Gods of electricity are pleased, (this works in DCC land because the polarity is not normally reversed, but if one of the feeders is reversed, then it must be put back right before a train can cross the gap). Hope this helps. Dale

-- T. Dale Mings (dnpmings@kvnet.org), July 10, 2004.