After a lot of trial and error, a lot of help and advice from forum members I came up with this simplified braking module.

It is basically four modules in one, controlling 4 braking sections individually as well as 4 connected light signals.

I did away with the emergency stop section, and now have transition sections on either side of the braking section.

The advantages is that I can now brake in both directions instead of just one, the obvious disadvantage is that Trains can overshoot but by carefully tuning your braking delays it works fine.

I control the unit digitally with a K83 and my MS2

All in all for less than about $30.00.

Each relay controls 1 braking section and the two transition sections (Connected together)from the bottom end of the photo.

The two blue wires would go to the K83.

The top section gets connected to the red and green LED's of my actual signals.

In hindsight I could have simplified it more by having just one connection for the yellow feed coming in at the top (The white wires does just that at the moment but it looks untidy)

Also I still need 4 digital feeds from the bottom which cold also have been simpler.

Hope this can be of help to others on this forum.

Regards

Leon

looks like a nice and smart (because apparently simple)solution.
I like the bi-directional nature too.
You basically just supply DC when braking, and the relays switch between DC and teh digital signa.
Am I correct?
Dis you test it only with Marklin Motorola locos, but also with DCC?
In theory DCC locos equipped with (among others) ESU decoders can be set *not* to go "analog" when reaching the braking section.
Like Juhan I'd love to see the schematics and eventually get you permission to reproduce. (For my personal consumption, *not* for commercial purpose!!!)
Cheers

Leon,

Does it keep the sound operational ?

John

Leon, greetings from a bit further south.
I see you also enjoy constructing electronic gadgets for Marklin.
Hope to get together at some stage.

Regards,
John

Jacques,

When using an ESU decoder (Version 4) you turn off DC analog and your loco will than respond to the breaking module but I couldn't tell you more about it, it was explained to me why but since I have forgotten.
Initially I've enquired on the ESU forum why does my locos not respond to the Maerklin breaking module.

John

Hi,
1)I gather by what you have said about the sound still working that while in red and the train stopped you still get full voltage on the track, right?
My question comes because of lighted coaches that may have a current pick up within the braking area.

I couldn't wait, I built one and have my questions answered. Thank you for the idea, I was just about to waste money on a Marklin module to test it out.

Edited by user 04 February 2012 04:07:10(UTC)  | Reason: new info

Sorry , I have tried an old 1950's carriage with light bulbs and they do light up just a tiny bit dimmed but not much.

As it was mentioned before sound works but you are not able to send new orders. So, while on the station I'm not able to use the loco's station announcements, whistle or horn which I may have want to but I'll cope. Particularly when making the modules for peanuts instead of having to pay the full price for several modules!

I have made a test module, based on Mr. Huib Maaskant's drawing.

It will not work, either with mfx or c91 locomotives.
I have checked my connections many times, and they are correct.

The train passes the Transient Section and goes into the Braking Section without reducing the speed. It stops at the Emergency Stop Section.

I use a 220uF 50V capacitor and two 1N4002 diodes. I have not installed the resistors.
My train controller is a CS1, latest update by Märklin, 2.0.4.
It works very well when I connect a 72441.

Some images from my old scope:

72441 at green light:


Home made at green light:


These two looks fairly similar, as the current passes through the relay only.


72441 at red light:

The voltage has dropped, but it is clearly some digital signals supplied to the track

Home made at red light:

Just a straight line at ground level

Scope settings:
1V per division, 10x at the probe
0,1 mS per division
Photos shot at 1/15 second

Maybe my 1N4002 is not quick enough?
I remember another topic a long time ago about schottky diodes.

Ideas, anyone?

Hello Intruder,

I couldn't actually find the circuit from the website you've mentioned. This is the one I've referred to in my post:
http://www.jornebanen.dk/Teknik/Bremsemodul/Bremsemodul.htm It did work on at least two modern MFX locos. I built the circuit with component I had at home so there were some changes. The capacitor I used is 300 micro, the resistor was only similar and the diodes were just what I had. I'll be surprised if your diodes are not fast enough to handle those signals. If you can try this circuit instead. I am not near mine to tell you the componets I've used but as you can see I didn't follow the exact recipe and still worked for me.

Thanks for the link. Your diagram is very close to the one I am using.

According to "my" diagram, the resistors are installed only for back-up power supply for the memory in c80 and c90 decoders, so I skipped them in my test circuit. I will install them and do another test.

Thank you! I had a look at your circuit. Resistor 2 is for keeping the decoder live while on the dead signal track and you can do away with it but I would leave it because I have seen on someone elses layout the advantage to have it (some locos wouldn't always restart when signal went green).

Resistor 1 I believe is the reason why you are having the problem. You must put it on. let me know how you go. if you have the chance I would like to see the signal you get on the osciloscope.

In case you need this as well: If you are using an added relay (your own) to do the switching and that's being activated by the digital controller you use (M central station?) it may need a full bridge rectifier instead of that diode D3. I use the ESU central station and with all the digital signal noise the relays I bought would not activate with just a diode.

Edited by user 06 February 2012 07:36:02(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Svein,
The fact that you get a 0V straight line can't be explained by a too slow diode or the lack of resistance.
As you have verified the real electrical schematic (diode and capa polarity...), I can only see a problem of soldering, or burned diode, or burned capacitor (but in that case you would have detected a short), or partly damaged relay.
Nevertheless, I'm surprised the train does not stop in the bracking section as you have 0V!

On the other hand, if I remember well, the use of shotky diodes allows not to use capacitor. It's an other story...
Good luck

Fred

Hi All, BigDaddy,

It's been a while since I've posted but I've recently re-aquired my very first layout built with these "Huib" braking modules. It's amazing how much one forgets what they've taught themselves over the years. Anyway, I've been trying to piece together exactly what I did 9 years ago...

I found these brake modules worked fine (not with k83, just contact tracks and 7072's) until you parallelled up a solenoid signal (7039) to them, then they wouldn't, the bi stable relay would just buzz. Finally concluded that the solenoid in parallel was feeding ac power back into the bi-stable relays via the blue ground wires. So instead of doing the obvious (put 2 more diodes on the blue wires, opposite to D3), I feed the entire signal/braking system with -ve dc (from a ms power pack).

Since re-aquiring the layout i'm in the process of converting all the brake modules with more diodes and doing away with the DC power supply, running the lot off ac.

Now operating with a k83 and the module not working until a solenoid was hooked up is a bit of a mystery, something to do with the type of output voltage from the k83 and normal ac? I'll have to dust off a few more brain cells....