SRBICE
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FrogsWhat are the benefits and drawbacks of fitting live frogs to your points? I was thinking of fitting some, but I am not too sure about them.
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Even older tom
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A free booklet came with the BRM a couple of months ago explaining all about this. From what I understood, the wiring is more complex but live frogs give better flexibility because you always have power to the track. I'll have a hunt around to see if I can find it. (Could take a while!)
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Rog (RJ)
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The main advantage of live frogs is that slow moving locos, especially those with few pickups or wheels, such as 0-4-0 or 0-6-0, have a better chance of not stalling when they reach the frog. The Hornby points have quite a large dead frog that can easily cause this problem if the point is not laid perfectly flat or the loco pickups are not perfect.
The disadvantage is that they can cause more short circuits as locos pass over them. To overcome this problem the point wiring is altered so that the moving point rails can't cause a short circuit and insulating rail joiners added.
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SRBICE
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Thanks for the advice. Out of interest, do they work on DCC (probably not me thinks)?
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poliss
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Live frogs work better on DCC. (I think) 
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SRBICE
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Aaah! That's great. Thanks poliss. I was beginning to think that I was wasting everyone's time asking this question as I have a DCC layout (although it could easily be modified to be a DC layout).
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poliss
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As far as I know, the only difference between DC and DCC wiring/trackwork etc. is that DCC is easier.
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Teleman
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Live frogs wire the same for DC and DCC . The wiring for the rest of the layout is the same as DCC but you must 'section' the track if you are using DC so on DCC for once life is easy !
If you buy Peco points there is a sheet in with them telling you how to wire them i would think others do the same
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SRBICE
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Thanks for the help, everyone. I will pop down to my local model shop (local being miles away) and get some one day.
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poliss
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I think live frog points are usually of the streamline variety which take up much more space than setrack points.
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