Hi All,

I have S88 decoder 60880 connected to CS2 60215. When I connected 2 home-made contact track (made from single 24188) into 60880 (port #1 and #2), something weird happen. When a train (with 4 cars) passing the contact track, sometime the S88 recognize it as I can see it on my CS2 (the sensor blinking yellow light), but sometime not. I already clean the track, but the intermittent always happen.

Also when I connected to the port #1, the S88 is not responding at all. With the same cable and contact track, I move to port #3, and it works, but only for temporary (same problem like I describe above).

Is my S88 decoder malfunction?
Is it possible that some S88 ports broken while others not?

Do I need to plug a cable on the T port (actually it is not T, it looks like T but upside-down)? If yes, where I should plug the other end? What is this port function? I read 60880 and 60215 manual, but cannot find any clue or hints.

With CS2, I also configure shuttle route. Hmm, when the first car passing the contact track, the train did stop. After a while, the train should run again to the next contact track, but because the second/third/last car passing the contact track, the train stopped again. It's like the CS2 is confusing , and think that the train arrive in the same contact track, so the train now running backward, going back to previous contact track. How to solve this problem? Any idea?

Many thanks All,

Cheers,
Sony

Edited by user 28 March 2013 09:08:39(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hello Adrian,

Thanks for your input.

For the first part, I'm still don't understand . What do you mean by "connected to the brown outlet of the CS2 (or where it first connects to a track)". I'm using 60061, is it transformer? I check all connection port in CS2, and can't find what you mean by brown outlet. Hmm, maybe some photo/picture well described for me (maybe since my English is not that good).

For the second part, I'm confident that I made it correctly .

So now, I'm still curious with the upside-down T port.

cheers,
Sony

Aha, now I understood. So basically all ports (including T) in S88 decoder get feed from the O line (not the B one). Okay, thanks for the explanation .
If I have a brown cable, and I put spade connector on one end, and insert it into O line of any normal track, and the other end goes to T port of S88, I guess it will do the same like your suggestion, right?

Hmm, another weird question from me, is there any specification of the cable? resistance (ohm), diameter of cable, etc? Or can I use any cable?

Many Thanks Nev .

regards,
Sony

hehe, USB memory stick is only 16 GB max, should think for external HDD, can be 2 TB max .

btw, thanks all, my problem with S88 are all disappear, thanks to Nev and Adrian and also Antonio.

I have set up 4 blocks with 4 sensors successfully (not ideal condition, I should have 8 sensors minimum, 2 for each block), but for now is okay, since I ran out of red plastic. think hard if there is other way, hehe maybe cut the metal near the track end, so no need to put the red plastic...

cheers,
sony

The flux required for smooth soldering is Ortho-phosphoric acid Flux


Nev

I read many people talking about this "T" connection: I can't see anything about this in Maerklin or Viessmann (or other manufacturer) s-88 box.
Checking Viessmann site, here:
http://www.viessmann-mod.../5217_98338_02_DE-EN.pdf

in Fig 5 all possible connections are clearly marked: the principle is that you shall connect to ground (brown wire or "0") any of the s-88 input to have it working (the brown cable at the right of the module is used only to feed the reed contact while the other two solutions have the "ground" connection through the rails).
In my lay-out (I'm using IEK and DIY modules) this simple way of connection works fine.

I guess you read that reply of TC on a several years old FAQ, at the time of the 6021 or IB1 controllers.
In fact, with new controllers like CS2 or ECOs, a connection between the T and the ground rail must be made, for the "brown" cable of these contollers are galvanically insulated from the ground of the S88.
At least if a reliable operation is required.

Fred

The reason you're getting different advices regarding the "T"-connection is that it actually works without it in some cases...!

But - when the feedback indicators start to flicker uncontrolled, connect the "T" to ground and you will have peace on the S88-bus. It's been confirmed several times that this "cure" works, not the least at German forums. Can't say why it starts to flicker, and why it doesn't always happen, I've had both cases - but by connecting the "T" of the first S88-module used it still hasn't happened again.

My S88-bus will NOT work without this connection - regardless of what the schematics say... Maybe it depends on modules (I do not use 100% original S88:s) used, maybe something else, don't know.

So - try without, if it works: -Fine. If it doesn't, or start to behave strangely later on: -Add the "T" to ground connection.

Thank you.. I knew that I had read it somewhere and it has been driving me mad.. I never thought to check the eCOS documentation..