Since we have one working on the HSG wye modules, I have some insight. For our situation it is the perfect solution. Since our wye is double-tracked, we have 6 turnouts and 6 crossovers. Due to the polarity issue, the 6 crossover frogs can potentially have the wrong polarity if the associated turnouts are set so (it took me a while to realize that when I was wiring the modules). The turnouts can be controlled via the manual throws, but the crossovers have no matching throwbars. There was no way to control the polarity of the crossover frogs. The Frog Juicer steps in by making sure the crossover frogs get the right polarity.
Now, outside the use in such a complicated section of track work, I agree, I don't see much use for them. The only situation where I can see that they would be of use is when you have a completely manual way of flipping the points on your turnout, and you don't want any electrical connection between the throwbar's position and the polarity of the electrically insulated frog. The Frog Juicer would then instantly detect a polarity conflict at the frog and make that switch for you. However, since most throwbar control mechanisms provide, in some fashion or another, a way to control the polarity going to the frog, the Frog Juicer is not needed. I use Tortoises on my personal layout, and I use one of its internal polarity routes to control the polarity of the turnout's frog. Either way you still have to electrically insulate the frog and you still have to solder a wire to it. If you have gone through the expense of a switch machine that can manage the polarity for you, you might as well use it. Bill, the accessory decoder is separate from the Frog Juicer. The accessory decoder (I use the Digitrax DS44 for my layout) is used instead of a DPDT toggle switch one might have in the layout's fascia. The DPDT toggle switch can be used to control the behavior of the Tortoise switch machine (as an example), or you can instead install an accessory decoder. I use the accessory decoder to control my turnouts, because I prefer a clean front fascia panel. One could still use a Frog Juicer to control the polarity of the turnout's frog, but that would be overkill if one installs a switch machine. I hope this clarifies things. If not, let me know. I'm off to a 3-hour operating session on a nice HO-scale layout... My, how small those trains are!!! - Peter. On 03/13/2011 3:10 pm, Bill Lane wrote: > All, > > > > I read the description of the Frog juicer& am still trying to understand > why it is useful. Perhaps since I am not using any accessory decoders > (throwing turnouts?) it is not for me. > > > > > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane > > Modeling the Mighty Pennsy& PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988 > > See my finished models at: > <http://www.lanestrains.com/> http://www.lanestrains.com > Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! > > Custom Train Parts Design > <http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm> > http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm > > PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold& Traded > (Trading is MUCH preferred) > <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls> > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls > > ***Join the PRR T&HS*** > The other members are not ALL like me! > <http://www.prrths.com/> http://www.prrths.com > <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf> > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf > > Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society > It's FREE to join!<http://www.prslhs.com/> http://www.prslhs.com > Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > -- Peter Vanvliet ([email protected], or [email protected]) Houston, Texas "It is easy to give up; anyone can do that..." http://pmrr.org/ (my model railroad - RSS feed <http://pmrr.org/rss.xml>) http://fourthray.com/ (my company) http://houstonsgaugers.org/ (model railroad club) -- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
