Issue with O gauge electrofrog points wiring

[CDRC]

Hi all

I have decided to build a small O gauge end to end layout underneath my 00 gauge. I wanted to continue in DCC and decided to use DCC Concepts IP Digital pm’s. My existing 00 gauge layout is DCC and the 19 sets of points are all converted electrofrog with IP Digital and the layout runs beautifully. This decision meant I needed to convert Peco Electrofrog points, something I had done previously. I purchased a left and right hand point and a Y point from eBay as I needed to keep costs down. 1 of the points came from an existing DCC layout. The second point and the Y point did not. Having converted points previously I thought the process of converting these points would be quite simple……mmmmmmm, think again. I converted the 2 points and laid them with the track and got a short code as soon as I connected my Select (I’m using my Select as a walkabout to change the points) I disconnected the Select and tried with my Elite and tested the track again, still shorts. After a great deal testing I isolated the problem to the points and possible incorrect wiring. The stock rails have been joined as per guidelines and all three points have insulated track joiners at the frog ends even though the photos only show 1 at this time. I have attached 2 photos to show my work. Point 2 is the point bought already altered for DCC. At the frog ends where the the insulated joiners are placed both pieces of track are live. I have joined these with a green line. The track on points 2 and 3 joined by the red line are live whereas on point 1 the 2 pieces of track are isolated from each other. In the second photo, with the points flipped, point 1 with the 2 red lines indicate where I cut 2 stand alone connecting wires which I did after examining point 2, the one purchased already converted. My question is are points 2 & 3 correctly wired with the middle part of the frog electrically connected or is point 1 correctly wired with the 2 rails isolated?

Thanks

CDRC

[CDRC]

Hi,

Problem(s) solved.

1) Track continuously shorting out. Occam's Razor. The simplest answer is probably the correct one. I had swapped the dropper wires colours on the track and inadvertently linked that piece of track to the bus wire the wrong way around. Thus the continuous short.

2) ‘Y’ point not functioning correctly.

Where the wire to change the polarity at the frog was soldered to the frog underneath the point, a very small piece of plastic shaving had somehow become wedged underneath the wire to that part of the frog and lifted it away from the underside so there was no continuity between the ‘V’ of the frog and the rest. This prevented the current controlled by the switch inside the IP Digital from changing the polarity. This was demonstrated by the lack of continuity when tested with my meter. I stripped out the frog connection area gave it a good clean and managed to solder a small length of wire across the four contacts. The point now works perfectly.

I would like to share a number of thoughts in relation to this episode.

Usually the simplest answer is likely to be the correct one.

Fault diagnosis is key in this hobby.

Sleep on it.

👍

[Fishmanoz]

Thanks for that CDRC. I would make a couple of observations:

• yes, it would be overly complex to assume that wiring practice for electrofrogs is different for O and OO gauges, and
• did you use a “razor” to clean out that frog area?