What are 'Hex Frog Juicers'?

[298]

Isn't it time someone made an equivalent Frog juicer for DC? OK, it couldn't work on track voltage as the DCC ones do, but it would have to have its own supply. it would be very useful nevertheless.

You could develop that into a wishlist once other nice things to have are considered, such as constant track voltage for coach lighting, the ability to have simpler wiring, block detection modules, and perhaps individual addressing of locomotives instead of just energizing the piece of track that they are on.

[meil]

Isn't it time someone made an equivalent Frog juicer for DC? OK, it couldn't work on track voltage as the DCC ones do, but it would have to have its own supply. it would be very useful nevertheless.

Yes, it's called a micro-switch.

[dhjgreen]

Isn't it time someone made an equivalent Frog juicer for DC? OK, it couldn't work on track voltage as the DCC ones do, but it would have to have its own supply. it would be very useful nevertheless.

If running slowly on pure analogue DC I could not see how a short could be easily detected. It might work if you used a PWM controller though.

[Talltim]

If there was a way of detecting a short on DC, you would also have to sense the voltage was being applied at to apply the correct 'reversed' voltage

Edit: actually it could be fed from the track voltage of the appropriate adjacent rails so wouldn't need sensing. Would still need seperate power so it can operate whatever the track voltage.

[Suzie]

Revisiting this, still don't understand your logic. Having the points set for the chord doesn't stop the diamond being in use.

lake freemo.jpg

If you want to do that things start getting a bit more complex and both of the diamond frogs will need to be switched with the lower point. If the junction is unsignalled in a yard perhaps then I guess you could leave anything parked anywhere and separate switching of the diamond's polarity will be required. Given that situation I would probably do something with a couple of IRDOTs detecting the presence of a train in one of the routes through the crossing.

 

If it is in a controlled block or a signalled junction then a train would not have been signalled across the diamond like that if the exit was blocked and the train would not foul the crossing, and the points would be locked until the track circuits around the crossing were clear.

[Talltim]

Given that situation I would probably do something with a couple of IRDOTs detecting the presence of a train in one of the routes through the crossing.

 

So have the diamond set to the polarity of one line unless an IRDOT detects a train on the other line? So, for example, normally have the polarity set for trains on the left-right track, with an IRDOT just north and south of the diamond to detect trains on the other line and reverse the polarity. Once they stop detecting the polarity reverts.

[Suzie]

So have the diamond set to the polarity of one line unless an IRDOT detects a train on the other line? So, for example, normally have the polarity set for trains on the left-right track, with an IRDOT just north and south of the diamond to detect trains on the other line and reverse the polarity. Once they stop detecting the polarity reverts.

 

Spot on. Works for DC too. Use the IRDOTs that have relays and delay.

[Junctionmad]

If running slowly on pure analogue DC I could not see how a short could be easily detected. It might work if you used a PWM controller though.

 

correct , and is also make more difficult by the change in polarity to reverse trains , neither of which occur in DCC. The frog juicer is only practical in DCC.  ( all the more reason to dump DC IMHO ) 

 

dave

[Suzie]

 

I think this should do it. Does not matter which IRDOT goes where, but they must be in the same track one either side of the diamond.