"are the gaps still necessary? "

The gaps are still necessary on a powered frog so it doesn't short out the route beyond the switch when the frog polarity reverses. I don't have any Peco switches but they probably already have a gap just beyond the frog? If not you can put the gap at the end of the turnout and make it with an insulated joiner where the flextrack connects. This will give a longer frog reversing polarity segment but can save cutting gaps if they are not already there.....DaveB

Good Info from Wiring for DCC by Alan Gartner

Have a look at Alan's site in particular http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htm

I think you will get all the answers you may need.

A short is a short DC or DCC.

   The gaps must be there even in DC. The only difference is wiring a DCC layout over a DC layout is the quickness of the short detection in DCC. The DC power pack relies on a slow acting circuit breaker where the DCC booster needs a super fast (faster than a blink of an eye) breaker to overcome the damaging effects of the high amperage.

  Very important and highly under stressed is the importance of doing a quarter test after wiring any DCC layout. A quarter test will insure that your fault protection systems, either bulbs or breakers will function properly in event of a derailment. I have seen too many burnt wires, melted ties, and smoked out toggle switches that could have eventually burnt down the house if left unattended. Make darn sure your protection circuits work as intended!!!

               Pete

I put together the turnout "cluster" late last night....

....and cut the gaps this morning. The cluster I'm referring to is the turnouts where the points are back to back and there is an additional curved turnout on one end and another turnout on the other.  I don't use insulated joiners and I don't have any on hand if I did so  I just used my trusty Dremel to cut the gaps and am now waiting for the CA that used to put plastic in the gaps to cure good and strong. Then I'll shave it down where wheels can pass over them without incident. 

Yes, of sorts....

PECO already has gaps?

Dear Brian,

Um, I believe PECO  Code 83 turnouts already do have gaps between frog and switchrail for "DCC friendly" config, the user is just left to snip the links with a rail nipper or similar

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww303/Kettingkrad/Railway/PecoSL-E96b.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/Ajax46/points001.jpg

The also have a already-attached frog powering wire, usually neatly folded up between the sleepers for shipping.

As for gaps beyond the frog, each install and situation is different, and PECO have left that to the good judgement of the modeller...???

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Code 75

Actually Prof. these are code 75 and they do have the wire to the frog and the jumpers to be cut if the modeler wants but they still need gaps or an insulated joiner between the inner frog rails and the next section of track.  I've never seen an electrofrog in any Peco configuration that didn't.  MY hope was that because i did not have a continuous run and the rails won't connect back onto themselves that I might could get by without the gaps.  I don't believe now that I can and have proceeded to put the gaps in place.

Michael

A friend used Peco Electrofrog turnouts

And yes the frogs are powered, however, they already have built in, if i recall correctly, powered routing for the frog.  That is the frog is correctly powered depending on which direction the switch of the turnout is thrown. 

Ken L.

Working with Peco Electrofrogs