Does anyone have an opinion or experience or heard about other peoples's experience in using Atlas Snap Switches and Atlas Custom Line Switches for a DCC application right out of the box without any modifications?

I currently have a number of each in my layout that I am converting to DCC and I need to install additional switches. I only want to use Atlas switches.

Any unbiased information would be appreciated

-- Harold M. Tepper (haroldt314@aol.com), January 14, 2004

Answers

I use both the Custom Line and the standard Snap switches from Atlas on my DCC layout. I have not expirienced and problems nor did I have to do any modifications to them. No snips, clips or soldering. I have left them on a power pack for now for control. Sorry, no expirience with DCC control of the turnouts though. Think that would be more of a decoder issue than the turnout.

-- Dan Ferrick (dtferrick@msn.com), January 15, 2004.

I use Atlas code 100 and code 83 custom line of switches on my DCC controlled layout. The two problems I have encountered are poor electrical connections 1) through the swivel rivet to the point rails, and 2) within the hidden connections between stock and wing rails. The problems are not apparent right away. In most cases, they started 6-9 months after initial installation. The grief of intermittent connections has caused me to install soldered jumpers on every switch to ensure continuity, just like Allan said. I have not bothered to power the metal frogs.

-- Don Vollrath (dvollrath@magnetek.com), January 15, 2004.

I would concur with Don's comment about loss of conductivity through the point swivels and the connection from stock to wing rails. I have had the same thing happen. The point rail / swivel problem is particularly bad. Almost all my turnouts have that problem after a couple of years. I have a major wiring job to do before I get converted to DCC, and with the turnouts in place and ballasted it's a lot harder!

If you are thinking at all about using Atlas turnouts, definitely follow Allan's instructions for jumpers.

-- George Van Duyne (g_vanduyne@yahoo.com), January 26, 2004.