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 Post subject: Glossary
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:24 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:10 am
Posts: 2
I'm really new to this, and need some help with terms and abbreviations of terms. Such as: What is a "PC" tie? "PC" must stand for something, but I can't figure out what. If it not a "PC" tie, what is it?

Is there a glossery of model railroad terminology? Stock rail??? Why should i choose an "insulated frog" over a "non-insulated frog"? It would certinly help me!

Thanks . . . from Petoskey, Michigan USA


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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:06 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:40 pm
Posts: 12
I guess you do have some learning to do.
A PC tie is a railroad tie made from a piece of computer board. It has copper cladding either on one side or both sides. It is used for building and hand laid track work. Generally rail is soldered to it.
A stock rail is a rail that has no break or gap in a track switch/turnout.
The frog is the piece of track work that allows for a wheel flange to pass through. There are frogs in turnouts and crossings. There has to be some form of insulating to prevent short circuits.
Pete

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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:39 am 
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Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:49 pm
Posts: 13
Yo emain,

Welcome aboard Cap'n. As for PC tie and what they're used for, see the documents link next to the discussion button you used to get here. Lotsa useful info in video form (way cool). It did wonders for a layman like me.

[urlhttp://www.handlaidtrack.com/online-videos-a/164.htmurl]

You also asked about dead or alive frogs, hope this link gets you there:

[urlhttp://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htmurl]

FT

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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:12 am 
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:48 am
Posts: 365
Location: East Texas - USA
Actually due to editing and coding issues the links are:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/online-videos-a/164.htm
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htm


Both are fine links and good source of information.

Also Google and Bing can be your friend:

Printed circuit board
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate.

-ed-

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-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.


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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:23 am 
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Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:10 am
Posts: 2
Many thanks to all for the responses.

I have spent this morning at the video library and my learning curve is improving. I presume that you have to break the electrical connection between the rails after they have been soldered to the pc tie. Perhaps that is in a yet to be viewed video.

Another few hours with the videos and I'll be ready to order and build.

emain


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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:10 pm 
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:48 am
Posts: 365
Location: East Texas - USA
You can cut a small grove in the PC ties even before placing in the fixture and soldering. The paper templates show the insulating gaps quite well. With the smaller scales (Z, Nn3, even N), it is actually MUCH easier to pre-gap the PC ties. Use one of those zona or X-Acto 'razor' saws.

The frog needs to have the actual rails gaped - that is done after the soldering completion. Video show using a jewelers saw to do this - and that is the much preferred method for the bench built turnouts. If you build in place on the layout - you'll have to use a special very thin dremel cut of disk for the rail gaping. Extra thin diamond cut off disks are avialable from several jeweler supply shops.

Keep studying - there are LOT's of resources on the web. Use the search engines and you'll have HUNDREDS of HOURS of research material.

-ed-

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-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.


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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:18 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:49 pm
Posts: 13
Many happy thank yous for clearing that up Ed. what could I have done???


TEST:
[urlhttp://www.didel.com/Frames.html?MainFrame=/microkit/pricelist/url]

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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:42 am 
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:48 am
Posts: 365
Location: East Texas - USA
Somehow, when you insert the URL your are over writing the "]" and "[" markers.

[urlhttp://www.didel.com/Frames.html?MainFrame=/microkit/pricelist/url]

should be:
[..l]............................................................................[/..l]

like:
http://www.didel.com/Frames.html?MainFrame=/microkit/pricelist/

-ed-

_________________
-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.


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 Post subject: Re: Glossary
PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:22 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:49 pm
Posts: 13
ahhhso. Thanks again my friend.

Test

http://jamesriverbranch.net/part_9.htm
http://jamesriverbranch.net/part_9.htm

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