Hi there!

I'm a novice in Marklin models.
Some time ago i've bought Marklin 34159. I've used it in static exposition.
Now I'm going use it on layout. Also I'm going to buy CS3.
Locimotive specs shows Delta decoder installed.
Will it controlled by CS3 or I should convert it to DC motor and MFX decoder?
How do I can get DC conversion kit model number for my 34159 if it need conversion?

Thank you!
Nick.

Thank you!

If I will want to convert it to digital with one of modern mfx decoder with sound functions how I can identify suitable DC motor model for it?
As I read controller should be 60975/60965. BTW dont anybody knows what the difference are between that controllers?

Hello Nick,

well I do not want to be a weisenheimer or so. Your loco is a digital one and has a motor for digital current use inside. The 60975/60965 is not a controller these are art# for decoder. But you will get more and more questions about these things. So please let me start with fundamentals. Plenty of them are discussed here in the forum already, especially for a CS 3. Even you find most of the answers in the recommended book. Your advantage is, that this book is now in English available. A year ago it was not! I got this book almost 2 years ago in German and I am still reading almost every day in it. For me it is like a thesaurus too. But please be aware about the English. It is often not a good translation as our English mother tongue speakers may certify here. Anyway you will come back here for more questions. I myself have this problem too.

Are you able to read or understand a few words in German as well? I ask because Märklin has published many of brochures and books about its digital railway. So e.g. about the new decoders mSD3. But unfortunately they are only available in German. Be aware there are still decoders as a mSD are available. These are the old ones, cheaper and working, but with an old technology. State of the art is the new mSD3 class and in my opinion the only choice, if you use a CS 3.

I read in a German community that one member is changing step by step for his over 50 locos all decoders to the mSD3 one, because of its quality against all the other decoders before Märklin had issued.

mSD3 (= Märklin Sound Decoder 3) stands for a decoder with sound, a mLD3 (= Märklin Locomotive Decoder 3) is a decoder for a loco without sound.

But they are all and always mfx decoders.

The different numbers are because of their pre stored sound on the decoders. One sound is for steamers, one for Diesels and one for electric locos.

I did not find a proof yet, but I guess that the “3” in the name aligns to the name of the CS 3. The CS 3 is the first controller from Maerklin in a 32 bit technology and these decoders to. For me the main reason for both of their technical quality.

Also there is a difference in size, cabling and mounting of the decoders. All this you see really very helpful and with pictures in an overview in the recommended book. And to me a picture says sometimes more than hundred words. So I really keep here on basics and request you to get a view into this book.

Your loco is already digital and has a DCM motor. It is from the digital Delta system. And yes I would recommend to change the decoder to a mSD3 art# 60975 (the art# 60965 is the old decoder model mSD). It is the one with the preset sound for a steamer. Also the mSD3 are mfx decoders, the Delta ones are not.

Later on you may change the sound to the one you like. Märklin offers for this a huge sound library. Meanwhile with the new 32-bit technology Märklin even offers the possibility doing your own individual sound project and load it up to your loco. For storage purposes there is indeed now a 64 Mbit storage room on the mSD3 decoder.

One thing I would recommend to you. Think about, if buying a CS 3 or a CS 3+. The main technical difference is the galvanic separation inside. For this theme 2 links to topics at marklin-users.net telling you more about it.

https://www.marklin-user...CS3-vs-CS3--which-to-get

https://www.marklin-user...t39951-CVS3-plus-and-S88

Enough for this time. Get ride off your headache and then we see you here again?

Regards

TEEWolf