Insulfrog double slip for DC....Yet another how too?

[davidrivett]

Hi all,

I've bought a couple of double slips in insulfrog and was hoping to fit them on my layout somewhere, but have put it off due to my lack of electrics experience.

My layout is in DC supplied by a Gaugemaster Q controller but use purely the rails to send the current (ie no bus wires).

I'm hoping to install the slip in my goods yard area that comes off the outer track into dead end sidings so I can have a headshunt. For this area I've got a standard Hornby controller on hand to control stunting in and around the sidings so there's power still when I've set the points away from the main running lines.

I'm looking for help (in plain English) how to install them using the Hornby controller where the slip will have the headshunt and access to the main running lines to the right and a series of 3 sidings to the left.

I've looked online and everyone links to the Brian Lambert downloads which with my background look too daunting!

Am I right I need to put IRJ's to the 4 inner sections and wire the positive / negative wires to the outer rails?

If any switches are needed, recommended parts please let me know!

Thanks in advance all

[Mike Parkes]

The track on the double slip is powered by track feeds to the outside rails. Cannot remember whether all the exits are live all of the time - suggest you apply power to the outside rails and test it. If they are then you might need to add plastic rail joiners to the rails from the frogs and add switched feeds.

[Brian]

Post removed as information provided was incorrect.

[davidrivett]

First of all hope everyone had a great Christmas!

I've tried power to the outer rails but when testing with a loco in siding 1 and 2 they move at the same time instead of independantly.

I have the option when laying properly to have a power feed at the headshunt meaning it would be its own shunting area without the need to use feed from the main running lines.

Any help would be appreciated.

If switches are needed how do you install them and where?

Thanks in advance

[Brian]

Post removed as information provided was incorrect.

[davidrivett]

I've managed to compress a couple of photos (see attached).

The diagram is what I want to do and the picture is what I've been testing.

I've tried with power to the rail connector as shown as well as to the outer rails on the DS and on both occasions when testing with 2 locos both move at the same time even when one is on a track not set.

From my diagram the inbound from the main running lines will be powered from said lines, where I was thinking of putting the additional controller to the head shunt track meaning a train could arrive from the mainline into the sidings 1, 2 or 3 then shunted via the headshunt power once the track is switched.

Hope this makes sense!

[davidrivett]

1545952561132107.jpg

1545953182256769.jpg

[Mountain Goat]

Treat a DS as two single points placed single line end to single line end (Toe to Toe). They are no different. So whatever you would do with two points do the same with the DS!
If the Insulated frog DS only connects tracks all fed from the same controller then connect rail power to the two outer curved stock rails of the DS. No need for any IRJs.
If the Insulated frog DS connects two tracks that are fed from separate controllers, then fit two IRJs to the DS rail ends in the direction that connects to the second controller feed rails. The first controller feeding the DS rails up to the IRJs.


Double Slip same as.jpg

What a brilliantly simple diagram to describe double slip wiring.

[RSR Engineer]

If I've understood correctly, Brian, I fear I must beg to differ. The double slip is equivalent to two points back to back, as you say, but **non-isolating** points. It the double slip (looks like Peco Streamline in the photo) is wired as per your diagram, all exit rails are live, regardless of which route is set. For this reason, the arrangement in the photo is also perfectly feasible. No problem if you're running digital but if the control is analog, then IRJs, as you also correctly state, are needed if you want to park a loco on one of those sidings. If you're on two analog controllers (e.g. one for main line and one for shunting, with common return), the double slip must be wired as a discrete track section and assigned by cab control to one controller or the other, unless you want to have to synchronise the controllers every time a train passes from one "sphere of influence" to the other. And even then you will still need IRJs and isolating switches if you want park a loco on a siding leading from the double slip.

I hope I've clarified and not confused.

Cheers,
Artur

[Brian]

Post removed as information provided re self isolating was incorrect