Hi Tim

I don't have a permanent layout but content myself (at present) with C-track carpetbahn sessions or sometimes on the table top. I have two 24997 uncouplers and find them very effective and reliable.

Originally I operated them by hand but wanted to control them digitally. Because of the temporary nature of my setup, I don't want to use a M83 decoder with wires running everywhere so I managed to insert a 74462 turnout decoder hidden within the ballast molding of each uncoupler. Perhaps an expensive solution but it works for me. I use a MS2 and operation of the uncouplers is perfect. The turnout decoders give exactly the right strength and length of pulse to operate the uncoupler mechanism.

Keith

I'm actually doing the opposite - removing my decouplers - and there are approx. 10 of them in K track.

They are all digitally controlled and have never been used very many times.

They are ugly and noisy, so there is no reason to keep them on our layout
.
Those present where they are installed are also max. 40 cm from the edge, and it will soon be a hand-torn decoupling ....

Hi Tim
My permanent C Track layout and exclusively Märklin has 24997 and all of them are working very reliably provided:
- there is no pulling force exerted on the coupling (so pushing works better
- short burst of activation are better than a long one (which may interfere with sliders or some body construction (snow plugs, etc)
- some locos are simply non-compatible with the uncoupler (not enough space for the 24997 to raise high enough to raise the buckle) but luckily this is rare.

Some of these 24997 are noisy which is their key drawback. I suspect, new units attached on a thing foam bed would reduce the noise
Those units have a built-in thermal protection so if the coil temperature goes to high, the protection cust off the power.

On my layout, all uncoupler tracks are operated by Rocrail and they work every time provided there is no pulling force on the coupler which may prevent the buckle to be lifted.
On the video below you may see two different 24997 operating to automatically uncouple any kind of train (0:28, 038 and 13:24 into it).
At the end of the same video (21:10 into it), you may see a humping yard (marshalling yard), automatically operated uncoupler. The trigger in this case is an oblique infra-red beam to locate the exact coupler position.


I hope this helps
Jean

Hi Jørgen

Thanks Glad you like it.
The "planks" on the turntable are zamak with a thin metal cover, so fragile (no abrasive, never) and a soft cleaning with a contact liquid before each use helps a lot.
The 7286 TT is fitted (by me) with a DSD2010 (DigitalBahn) set of 2 decoders: one main ("Grube") for overall operation and a slave one ("Bühne")under the bridge. This allows to have up to 3 detection zones on the bridge, digital controlled cabin light, flash light, four signals and a SUSI sound module.
The turntable is very silent. Here it is when I purchased it in 2013

Cheers
Jean

Hi
Yes the planks casted in Zamak are covered with a metal treatment (Metal ion transfers through a bath and a DC current - disappearing anode). All this is factory made by Fleischmann / Märklin.
What metal it is ? I don't know. Often it starts with copper as an underlayer. It is very thin (a few microns)

Decoder
I purchased the DSD2010 as a kit (to fit with components, to wire, test, install, program yourself)
Here is the main decoder (Grübe)

and the slave decoder (Bühne) with the whole wiring (4 signals, SUSI, cabin light, warning light


Cheers
Jean