Micro Engineering turnouts no good on DCC

[Sir Robbins]

I have concluded through using various turnouts (Atlas, Walthers and Peco) that for whatever reason, Micro Engineering turnouts don't send power. I have tried everything with them short of putting power on both sides of the turnout but that would be ridiculous to do on the whole layout. They also, sadly, fall apart and the rails break easily when cutting ties to connect joiners. I love their flex track but their turnouts are atrocious (and expensive).

Has anyone had ANY luck with their turnouts on DCC?

 

[Marlin39]

Are you using the ones that say "DCC Compatible"

 

[Sir Robbins]

Are you using the ones that say "DCC Compatible"

View attachment 269218

I'll need to go and check. When I bought them from ebay, the add said they were. Maybe the seller sent me the wrong ones.

 

[Rico]

I had them on the previous DCC layout but I had feeders before and after every switch, maybe that’s what makes them DCC compatible?
I wound up removing them because as you mentioned they look great but are extremely fragile.
I have a load in a box somewhere.

 

[Marlin39]

I had them on the previous DCC layout but I had feeders before and after every switch, maybe that’s what makes them DCC compatible?
I wound up removing them because as you mentioned they look great but are extremely fragile.
I have a load in a box somewhere.

You may have missed in the description above, "...with no modification necessary". I actually prefer the Walthers DCC ready switches for HO, but I'm jumping back down the On30 rabbit hole.

 

[TLOC]

I use ME turnouts and I run DCC with no issue. I have a mix of ME purchases from the 1990’s and recently 2024

 

[Sir Robbins]

I use ME turnouts and I run DCC with no issue. I have a mix of ME purchases from the 1990’s and recently 2024

maybe I got sent the wrong ones when I ordered them. I have trashed the packaging so it is what it is. Luckily, I still have lots of Atlas turnouts from my prior layout that was destroyed.

 

[Rico]

You may have missed in the description above, "...with no modification necessary". I actually prefer the Walthers DCC ready switches for HO, but I'm jumping back down the On30 rabbit hole.

Yeah I didn’t modify, just added feeders. Maybe they weren’t necessary.
I think I have a couple Walthers somewhere on the layout.
Oh, and please show pics of the 0n30!

 

[Marlin39]

Yeah I didn’t modify, just added feeders. Maybe they weren’t necessary.
I think I have a couple Walthers somewhere on the layout.
Oh, and please show pics of the 0n30!

This is my newest critter and a couple of hoppers I just finished.

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• Marlin39
• Jun 14, 2026

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• Marlin39
• Jun 14, 2026

 

[Sir Robbins]

I had them on the previous DCC layout but I had feeders before and after every switch, maybe that’s what makes them DCC compatible?
I wound up removing them because as you mentioned they look great but are extremely fragile.
I have a load in a box somewhere.

upon investigation, I did buy the ones that were for DCC but I did not bother putting feeders on both ends of the switch. I haven't had to do that in the past with atlas or walthers. Maybe just got some bad units or something. I put atlas ones in their place and I am fine now.