Are Atlas turnouts DCC friendly?
Atlas code 83 turnouts are DCC friendly; however, the hidden electrical connection between the stock rails and the closure rails is not secure. The plastic frog on other Atlas turnouts creates a gap in power and control signal pickup which cannot be fixed.
How do you power an Atlas turnout?
All you need is a basic on/off switch with a plastic handle. Drill a small hole through the handle and using a piece of piano wire connect the switch to the throw bar on the turnout.
What is turnout control?
Also known as switches or points, turnouts help guide your trains to a different set of tracks, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations. The way you control a turnout can also vary, depending on whether you want to turn over a switch automatically or manually, and by direct contact or remote.
Are Atlas switches power routing?
Atlas Custom Line turnouts are NOT power routing and need no special wiring for DC or DCC. The only drawback to them is the plastic frog, which can cause dead spots if you run very short wheelbase locomotives such as an 0-4-0.
Are Atlas code 55 turnouts DCC friendly?
Atlas turnouts are already DCC friendly. Their new turnouts still have those impossible-to-solder-to frogs.
What is the difference between a turnout and a switch?
Turnout refers to the entire assembly: the points; frog; guard rails, all the fixed rails, and the machine. The term is primarily used by the Track and Signal Departments. Switch refers to the moveable parts ONLY: the points and machine. The term is primarily used by the Operating Department.
How do you hide an Atlas switch?
Some Atlas switch motors can be mounted upside down to lower the motor and make it less noticable. Scenery can be carefully applied to it to further disguise it. One note: to turn the switch motor upside down, you must use a right switch motor with a left turnout and a left switch motor with a right turnout.
How do model train switches work?
The points act as an electrical switch – When the points are directed to the through track, the power travels that way and the branch rails are dead. When the points are directed to the branch, then the through track beyond the frog is dead. The rails that cross at the frog are never live at the same time.
What Is a Number 4 turnout?
Turnout number refers to the amount of spread of the rails coming off the frog. The number is the ratio of the distance from the frog to the distance the rails spread apart. On a #4 turnout, the rails are 1 unit (inch, cm, scale foot, whatever) apart 4 units (inch, cm, scale foot, etc.) from the frog.
Do Atlas switches have powered frogs?
Both the Atlas Customline and SuperSwitches have cast frogs that do not take solder. They do have a small tab the guardrail and the tab has a hole. In the past I have made mechanical connections from underneath, a very short 2-56 screw through a drilled brass strip, then solder to the strip. That is a pain in the neck.
Is the Atlas commander a DCC control system?
Although an entry level system, the Commander is a sophisticated integrated DCC system capable of powering three or perhaps four engines, and controlling turnouts via the DCC track bus. The Commander has considerable expansion potential, deriving to a large extent from its Lenz heritage and the presence of an XpressNet jack on the back of the unit.
What is the code for an Atlas turnout?
Code 55, 83, (including Custom-Line. Yes, you should wire your Atlas N-scale Code 55 turnouts. I’ve borrowed the diagram below from the excellent Wiring for DCC web site.
Do you need a DCC decoder for an Atlas Locomotive?
DCC Controlled track switches. You must purchase enough stationary decoders (e.g., Atlas #344 Turnout Control Units) for all the switches to be operated from your DCC system. Some Cautions Atlas recommends that you NEVER use on a DCC layout a locomotive that has no DCC decoder.
What kind of decoder do you need for Atlas?
You must purchase enough stationary decoders (e.g., Atlas #344 Turnout Control Units) for all the switches to be operated from your DCC system. Some Cautions Atlas recommends that you NEVER use on a DCC layout a locomotive that has no DCC decoder. If you operate an analog (no decoder) loco on a DCC layout, you are applying AC power to a DC motor.