New "DCC Compatible" Walthers/Shinohara Turnouts???

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I just saw a listing (on internettrains.com) a listing for a supposed 'new' line of Walthers/Shinohara Turnouts that claim to be "DCC Compatible" - in addition to their standard line of unfriendly ones. There was no further information to discuss "what" is different to make them "DCC Compatible".

Anyone looked at/know/heard about what is different, AND if they truly are DCC Compatible (could it be, at long last, they've heard our voice?)

Thank you - Walt

-- Walter McIntosh (wmac@imt.net), February 12, 2004

Answers

All:

Walter McIntosh sent me some photos of the new Walther's DCC Compatible turnouts. Thank you, Walter.

I have determined that the turnouts are DCC Friendly.

Photos for the curious are on my website. Also, a link has been provided to take you to the Walther's website so that you can check availability.

http://www.WiringForDCC.com/switches_walthers.htm

-- Allan Gartner (wire4dcc_admin@comcast.net), March 13, 2004.


Walt,

I wondered what was different about them, too. I have ordered a couple to evaluate for my website.

Let me know if you know of any store that has them. Unless I am misunderstanding Walthers website, I think a few of them are available. Yet I don't have the ones I ordered.

-- Allan Gartner (bigboy@wiringfordcc.com), February 12, 2004.


I just received two of them the other evening and after a preliminary look, it appears that they require no work other than being attached to wires. The frog is insulated. The throwbar is made of plastic and metal to properly insulate your rails. In the center of the plastic is a hole for the switch machine piano wire. Attached to each point rail is a piece of metal which has holes for soldering your feed. Your throwbar is insulated and can accept feeders from both of your main buses. Seems to be truly dcc friendly. I have not installed them yet and don't know if any problems may be lurking.

Rob

-- Robert W. Gabraith (galbraith@zklaw.com), February 13, 2004.


I only know that the frog is insulated. Now for the question within the question........I am building my 2nd RR now with DCC...and ordered these TO's....do I still have to gap the rails at the frog end and power through the points?

-- Bill Wilkens (wwilkens@sbcglobal.net), February 18, 2004.

I can't know for sure until I get mine. I don't want to take a guess and be wrong. Try the turnout as on some temporary track and see what happens.

-- Allan Gartner (bigboy@wiringfordcc.com), February 18, 2004.


Well, I've taken the "big plunge" and ordered all the turnouts for my layout (32 of 'em). They will be the "New DCC Compatible" Walthers- Shinohara series. So - as they trickle in - I will be reporting on them. I was ready to go with the Central Valley kits, then I saw these... hope it turns out well! Thank-you Walthers!!??

Also, seems the 'old line' is being fully replaced by these "New" turnouts! (See online Walthers catalog; old series states they are being replaced w/ )

-- Walter McIntosh (wmac@imt.net), February 21, 2004.


Some of the turnouts have arrived! WOW! Several improvements I thought I'd relay... **1) The point rail is connected at the pivot with a rail joiner (soldered to the point rail), and looks VERY nice - almost like continual rail, like the Pilz! **2) The throw bar, where the points attach, is a single rivet in each point rail = insulated points. **3) The frog is fully isolated. There are cuts/fills immediately before and after the frog on both rails. **4) The incoming and leaving rails are jumpered (from below the turnout) from the stock rails, very clean and effective.

About the only concern is making sure the point rails receive, long- term, a good electrical supply. I am considering several ways to do this - including bonding them (see website pics of older style Walthers for example); dropping feeder wires from the points; or simply completing the soldering joint at the pivot (stiffer rail, much like Pilz solid rail points). I will report further on how this worked out.

-- Walter McIntosh (wmac@imt.net), February 29, 2004.


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