Easton & Potomac trackage - red lines

Monday, January 23, 2012

Conductive gel?

OK let me start by saying I know you should not use the point rails to conduct electrical power. However of the 85 switches on the layout that are doing just that I only have one that consistently gives me trouble.

The problem is with the contact between the point rails and the frog rails. This switch has a grommet swivel for the point rails. The point rails are supposed to make contact with a metal strip that runs from the frog rails and under the point rails. However there is enough play at the swivel point to keep the point rails from touching this metal strip.

I have tried bending down the point rails on each side of the grommet and that works for a while but will it is not consistent.

I believe if I could find some form of gel that will conduct electricity and place it under the point rails it would solve the problem. The gel should be thick enough to keep it from running and fill in the gap between the point rails and the frog rail strip.

I have some Neolube that is supposed to conduct electricity but it dries to a fine film and I don't think it will fill the gap consistently.

Anyone have an idea short of soldering a wire between the point and frog rails? (This would be my last resort.)

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