NINJA Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 Has anyone encountered this problem, I have laid my track, peco with elecrofrog points, I have installed gaugemaster Bpdcc80 autofrogs, running my Bachmann diesels no problem at all but since I tried running a Bachmann 45xx 32-125 and also a Bachmann ivatt 2-6-2t the autofrog 9 times out of 10 does not change the polarity. I connected a circuit tester to the track at the electro frog and you can see the latter part of the point energise when the diesel is there but not the 45xx. It is very frustrating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erixtar1992 Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 (edited) Are you using a powercab? i had to change dcc controller as a powercab wasnt powerful enough to switch them! Edited August 8, 2020 by Erixtar1992 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINJA Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Presently just analogue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erixtar1992 Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 Oh not tried them on DC. I thought they were a DCC only item. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted August 7, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2020 12 minutes ago, NINJA said: Presently just analogue So the track voltage is typically lower. Gaugemaster advertise this as a DCC item - why would you expect it to work on DC? I have about 20 of them and they work fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINJA Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Why would it differentiate whether analogue or DCC when it is just changing polarity? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted August 7, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2020 2 minutes ago, NINJA said: Why would it differentiate whether analogue or DCC when it is just changing polarity? Which simply indicates you know nothing of DCC. That is not a crime. DCC applies a continuous voltage across the rails, unlike DC, where the voltage fluctuates according to the position of the controller. The DCC80, and other similar devices, is designed to expect a specified conflicting voltage when the first wheel touches the wrongly-polarised frog, so if your DC controller is set at anything below max, it may not be enough to trigger the circuit and the relay. Locos with lots of wheels may help overcome this. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINJA Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Strangely enough I have used auto frogs for a long time always on analogue, the previous layout was American, using the usual, Athearn, Kato, Bachmann mix etc. I built this new layout and until today operated it modern image with the usual Hornby, Heljan, Bachmann mix of diesels. Until today, I decided to get out some locos which had been stored for a long while, starting with the Bachmann, 45xx and ivatt 2-6-2T and this is where the problem came to light. Looks like I shall have readdress the thinking on points, i do not like just relying g a the blade contact for power, suppose i will have to look at mechanical switching of the polarity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted August 7, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 7, 2020 21 minutes ago, NINJA said: Strangely enough I have used auto frogs for a long time always on analogue, the previous layout was American, using the usual, Athearn, Kato, Bachmann mix etc. I built this new layout and until today operated it modern image with the usual Hornby, Heljan, Bachmann mix of diesels. Until today, I decided to get out some locos which had been stored for a long while, starting with the Bachmann, 45xx and ivatt 2-6-2T and this is where the problem came to light. Looks like I shall have readdress the thinking on points, i do not like just relying g a the blade contact for power, suppose i will have to look at mechanical switching of the polarity. Are you using point motors? In which case a suitable alternative would be the GM500 relay wired together with the point motor. See Gaugemaster GM500 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINJA Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 Thanks for that RFS. I guess ignorance has been bliss until I tried the 45XX. On question, can the GM500 be used to switch the polarity on it's own without the point motor? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted August 8, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 8, 2020 1 hour ago, NINJA said: Thanks for that RFS. I guess ignorance has been bliss until I tried the 45XX. On question, can the GM500 be used to switch the polarity on its own without the point motor? If you're not using point motors then all you need is a simple SPDT switch to change frog polarity. This could be a miniature one that can sometimes be placed such that it is changed by the movement of the tiebar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINJA Posted August 8, 2020 Author Share Posted August 8, 2020 Thanks, would be ideal for the fiddle yard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Tolliday Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 I hope this thread is still alive! I have a dcc layout with 25 installed Gaugrmaster Autofrogs. Like others, I do have a couple of locos that dither, or stop, while others do not, in particular is the layout had been dormant for while. I have found that, once the layout has been in use and "warmed-up" the problem goes away. Recently, however, I have one particular turnout which shorts out dead, immediately any loco crosses it. The answer may be an unrelated issue, but, before I tear out the baseboard section, with all that entails (!!), can somebody tell me if it is possible for the Gaugemaster Autofrog can judt stop working, wear out, fail burn out, or whatever? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bandmbill Posted July 23 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23 Is your track clean? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Any item can fail, especially electro-mechanical items such as the autofrog from Gaugemaster, however they do offer a lifetime warranty on their products. But before you condemn the device check the back to backs on the wheels as it could be that they are shorting on the open blade when passing through it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 36 minutes ago, WIMorrison said: Any item can fail, especially electro-mechanical items such as the autofrog from Gaugemaster, however they do offer a lifetime warranty on their products. But before you condemn the device check the back to backs on the wheels as it could be that they are shorting on the open blade when passing through it. Gaugemaster's "Lifetime Warranty" applies only to some of their product line, not everything. It applies to the DC Controllers under their own brand, it doesn't apply to the DCC systems they brand and sell. Someone would need to check if it covers the AutoFrog device. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 @Nigelcliffe I checked before I mentioned it 😉 Click here to download (gaugemasterretail.com) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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