StanierBlack5 Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Hello Everyone, When two sets of points join together frog to frog (to cross from one line to another), do both frogs stay insulated - please take a look at the attachment. Thanks in advance, Roger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stokes Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Those are electrofrog points so you need isolating track joiners on all four places where you have red dots. Robert 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Live frogs are never insulated - when a point is set straight on the straight rail of the point is one polarity and all the others including the frog the other polarity, when a point is set curved the curved rail of the point is one polarity and all the others including the frog the other polarity, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 The first post is correct, the second post will cause a short circuit on your layout when only one point is switched and almost always when you try to switch both together as they won’t switch at exactly the same instant. stick with what you suggest originally and put insulated joiners in your red connections. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanierBlack5 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Many thanks for your swift answers, very much appreciated! I forgot to mention I intend using Cobalt iP point motors, so does that alter the situation? Please excuse my lack of electrical knowledge as I am learning as I go. Once again, many thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Motor type is irrelevant. If in doubt, use an insulated rail joiner. Connecting a dead section is much easier than troubleshooting a short circuit. I would always isolate like you have shown in your diagram, even if using Insulfrog points. With DCC, it is desirable to have the sidings live at all times to leave lights & sound running. & if you decide to retro-wire it for DC, you can easily put in section switches. There are other reasons I do it this way too, but it would pull the thread off-topic. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanierBlack5 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Thanks 'Pete the Elaner' - your advice has been taken on board! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 @StanierBlack5 You can also use the IP Digital to switch the frog polarity and get much more reliable running over the points. IIRC it shows you how on the IP Digital documentation, if not go to the website where it definitely does have diagrams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanierBlack5 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Once again many thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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