Novice's question on correct frog juicer use on diamond crossings.

[Colossus]

I'm working gingerly towards my first proper layout since I was a teen ( and that's a while back) and unravelling the dark arts of tracklaying as I go. I'm building a relatively simple N gauge layout plan which includes a diamond crossing (Peco code 55 long crossing).

 

At a well known Sussex based model shop, the helpful chaps sold me a Gaugemaster DCC Autofrog for the diamond crossing when I asked advice on polarity switching. Looking at how others have used frog juicers I see something called a 'dual frog juicer' is in use for some. My question, as the diamond crossing has two frogs, should I have been advised to get a dual frog juicer- or is the Gaugemaster DCC80 fine in which case, do I solder BOTH the frog wires on the crossing top terminal 'F'?

 

The instructions with it show it's use on a turnout, not a diamond crossing.

 

Any simply explained help appreciated.

[daltonparva]

The two frogs will have different polarity from each other, so do not connect them together. Either buy a dual frog juicer, or buy another single juicer and connect one juicer to one frog and the other juicer to the other frog.

[richard.h]

As per the previous answer you need a dual frog juicer or another DCC80. The only other possibility depends on how you switch your points, sometimes the point motor can do it for you, for instance I use Tortoise motors which have two inbuilt switches and these can be used to set the correct polarity of the crossing depending on the route selected so you don't need anything else.

[Colossus]

As per the previous answer you need a dual frog juicer or another DCC80. The only other possibility depends on how you switch your points, sometimes the point motor can do it for you, for instance I use Tortoise motors which have two inbuilt switches and these can be used to set the correct polarity of the crossing depending on the route selected so you don't need anything else.

 

Thanks chaps, both. A tad irritating I managed to come away, having bought all the pointwork and saying ' let me know what I need', I came away with half the job done.

 

A second a DCC80 will be acquired. Presumably then, they are wired independent of each other one to each frog?

[richard.h]

I am not familiar with the DCC80 but it should have input power from your DCC supply or the track then a single output to one frog so one unit wired separately to each frog, check again with you supplier when you buy the second one.