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EZ Track Turnouts Power Routing Question

Started by Nickf, February 21, 2025, 01:10:23 PM

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Nickf

So I'm new to Bachmann but not new to HO trains.

Doing some research I come to find out that Bachmann turnouts are powered all the time, regardless if i switch the points or not, power is running 100% through my entire layout.

I want to have some spurs that are unpowered to hold other locos.

Is there a way to modify the turnouts so they do route power when switching, or am I needing to set up block wiring with plastic rail joiners and external switches to turn power on/off to the spurs?

Right now I'm just in the beginning phase of my layout and my first line on my layout will be basically an oval with 2 spurs.


Thank in advance
NickF   

BobZ

I have 20 EZ Track turnouts, some go to sidings, some go to yard tracks. I don't know of way to modify the turnouts. There may be someone out there smarter then me that would know if it's possible. I simply isolate the siding and/or yard tracks using a Dremel tool and run power through an ON/OFF switch.

jward

I don't think any of them can be set up for power routing. Some of them you can power the frog but that's not what you are trying to do. You will need the insulating joiners to isolate your track, or you will need to cut gaps in your rails with a small saw or Dremel. Wiring your sidings to electrical switches is probably the most cost effective, but if you want to automate the process, you can wire an Atlas Snap Relay in parallel with your switch motor. The relay will throw at the same time as your switch motor, and you can use the contacts to route power to the siding when the switch is lined for it.
Jeffery S Ward Sr
Pittsburgh, PA

Nickf

Has anybody compared the older N scale turnouts wiring to the new HO turnouts?
Reading up on this subject, I see that the older N scale turnouts were power routing and just recently they changed the design to be 100% powered.
Maybe the clue is the wiring/connections in the old N scale turnouts.
Can someone tell me what turnouts do route power, I'm in the US if that matters. so something readily available and compatible (if possible) with the EZ Track