Electrofrog to Insulfrog

[Peter Crawford]

I have several Bachmann electrofrog points, but I need insulfrog points. It would help if I didn't need to buy new points or install section switches.

[Neil]

It would help to know why you think you require insulfrog points. There may be special circumstances where you may want a dead frog but I can't think of one. In general terms electrofrogs are far preferable to insulfrogs, the complexity and amount of wiring is comparable.

[Spitfire2865]

Why exactly do you need insulfrog?

[Peter Crawford]

Because I used to work in DCC but now prefer the simplicity of DC

[Butler Henderson]

Electrofrogs work fine with DC as well as DCC. The whole purpose of them is stop locos from stalling on the frog, if you have any ?-4-?s and ?-6-?s with pick up only on the driving wheels (and in the case of ?-6-?s often on the outer driving wheels only) then it will be a false simplification. If you fit point motors its a very simple task to throw the frog polarity  and the extra wiring needed beyond the insulating joiners will counter voltage drops.

[Suzie]

I suspect that there is some mistaken terminology here. I don't think that Bachmann make live frog points (Electrofrog is a Peco brand - not a point type or anything made by Bachmann).

 

What Bachmann do make is dead frog points that do not self-isolate. It should be possible to cut the links under the points.

[Peter Crawford]

There we go- points that don't isolate. How should I cut nickel silver? What's the difference between a non-isolating point and an electrofrog one?

[Suzie]

There we go- points that don't isolate. How should I cut nickel silver? What's the difference between a non-isolating point and an electrofrog one?

 

A non-isolating point has the diverging rails linked to the straight through rails.

 

An Electrofrog point is the name Peco use for their live frog points which have a conductive metal frog unlike their dead frog Insulfrog points which have a plastic frog, similar to that used in the Bachmann points (the Bachmann points have much more plastic in them than the Peco).

[Ron Solly]

Can I suggest the OP reads this page down to & including electrofrog

 

http://brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.html#Insulated

[Colin_McLeod]

Is it not just a case of disconnecting any supply to the live frog to make it a dead frog?

 

Never mind the "why".

Edited June 18, 2018 by Colin_McLeod

[Ron Solly]

Is it not just a case of disconnecting any supply to the live frog to make it a dead frog?

 

Never mind the "why".

 

Not unless there are insulating joiners on the frog and the frog is not connected to the blades otherwise the frog is powered by virtue of connection to other rails or blades to stock rails.