Hello again
A piece of advice in regards to which boosters are available and what would be a cheaper way to go.
I have a layout spread on a 120/240 cm plywood board controlled by a CS. Every time I run trains I get another idea of how I could rearrange the layout. I have about 14 turnouts out of which 8 are controlled through Viessmann decoders which I like due to the separate power supply I can use without affecting the train and lights dimming. The other 6 are 74460 which I prefer to use in spots where I "have a feeling" that the layout may change, but every time I use those I get problems with the lights on the locomotives and some cars that have interior lighting.
I read about the "no-no" of running parallel transformers. Is this due only due to the danger of getting zapped if you unplug one with the other one plugged in, or there is no efficiency due to the fact that the signal is not digitized? CAN IT HARM THE CS?
I just want to get the flicker out of the way (at least for now) 'till my layout will begin to grow, so that's why I do not want to go spending too much.
I will be getting another 6021 soon. Is that suitable in any way?
Any advice is appreciated and I am already looking forward for replies
Andy

You can buy a motorola (mm) booster. But if you do. Buy a regulated booster. The old Marklin mm booster from were unregulated.

<hr noshade size="1]

If you mean connecting two transformers to the same CS or booster: Don't do it!!! It is useless, since the CS can't use more power than you get from a single trafo anyway. And it's dangerous, since the two power sources may have opposite phase - creating an enormous shortcut. As an extra bonus you may also get electrocuted when you remove one of the plugs from the wall outlet while the other is still connected.

The only way to use an extra transformer in your layout is to connect it through a booster - that feeds a separate circuit. The cheapest solution is to feed the accessories through a Delta Control. In theory it can also feed the tracks, but there is a delay in its' signal, so it should be avoided. A separate power source for the accessories is always a good idea, since the power drops don't affect the trains...

Just to clear things out - what do you mean with a CS (as you say "Another 6021").
CS(Cemtral Station) is the name of the new central unit with large touch screen. 6021 is the old one, sometimes also called Central Unit.

Normally you don't use two central stations in one system; only one can be central.

If you have a 6021, you may use a 6017 booster, and also older ones like 6015. You may also use third party boosters as Uhlenbrocks Power 3. I don't know of any regulated boosters.

You'll pay a hight price for the convenience of using 74460 decoders. I personally am not prepared to do that; saving power by using Viessmann decoders is my choice.

/Lars

Hi guys
Thanks for all the replys
To clear some things out:
1. I have a Central Station
2. I also have a Mobile Station
3. I am awaiting for a starter set that has a 6021.
I was wondering if the 6021 could be used in any way as a booster if powered by a separate transformer.
I do not have any problems powering accessories since I don't have any at the time.
I have some tunouts controlled through Viessmann decoders with a sepparate power supply which I like a lot because they do not put any strain on the track's power supply and also they react extremly fast and "solid", while the 74460 are weak and slow to respond, and to top everything up when activated, they dim the light in the coaches, which is my main complaint.
I am using the 74460 due to the ease of being able to move turnouts arround when I feel like it and I don't have to move wiring arround which also looks ugly on top of the layout.
Question:
If the MS can only handle approx 20VA, the CS can handle approx 40VA, why do some sets come with a 60VA transformer.
I was thinking that the digitized voltage is mainly important for the "duty cycle" of the loks and some of the functions such as lights are on a "on or off" principle, therefore the more power to the tracks, less problems with the load applied to tracks showing on the lights in the coaches for example. I have a Santa Fe which while idling on tracks with the lights on, when I activate one tunout controlled by a 74460, the light go dim (almost off) for the duration of the switch (250ms) as controlled by the CS.
So, if I get a 60VA transformer to go with my CS, will that help cure my dimming lights problem, or I will still be limited by the CS's 40VA limitation?
Sorry for the long post, but I want to be as clear as possible
Andy

Lars, can yoou not use a 6017 together with a 60129? It says and I quote - "connection device for using the 6015 or 6017 boosters with Marklin Systems"

This is my understanding of things. You could probably also use a delta controller as a poor man's booster, along with the appropriate rocker insulators, etc. As for connecting a 6021 to a CS and using the 6021 as a booster, well this is theoretically possible. The diagram of the Marklin Systems architecture (see pg 406 of the 2006 catalog) shows a 60128 connection device which is meant to be able to connect a 6021 to a CS via the 60128 and a 60125 terminal. However, I don't think the 60128 is available yet.........

The other alternative to using the rocker insulators would be to use a piece of dead track, slightly longer than the largest loco ski, insulated at both ends, placed in between the 2 booster segments. The obvious problem with this is that trains would need enough momentum to pass through the dead section, and would jerk a bit, which could cause derailment. You'd probably want to do this inside a tunnel. It's not ideal but gets away from using rocker insulators.

Got the transformer.
While purchasing it I told my dealer the story with the dimming lights when using the 74460, and he told me that untill the 60VA trafo arrived to Canada he also used the 42VA with the CS and the CS behaved poorly. After switching to the 60 VA he said everything was OK. Unfortunatelly he did not elaborate on his problems.
Back to my story, I could say that the lights do not dim as much, but they still do. There is little power demand on the transformer when this happens: The Santa Fe has its lights on but no sound and is not even moving, the 43604 Express Train Passenger Car with its lights on. That's it. And when I activate ANY of the 74460 on the track this happens.
As long as there will be no other problems created by this power surge I guess I could live with it, but I don't know if everytime this happens I am creating a potential other problem.
Andy

Andy has got it, mark not. As Andy uses Viessmann-dekoders for the stationary part, where the 6604 could be used, he already saved most of the power. The Viessmann-dekoders draw very little digital power.

I certainly support Andy to wait segmenting the track unneededly; get a 60 VA first, try using function decoders if cars are lighted (so it could be turned off), and try retrofit Delta-locos with kits using permanent magnet. In that case 60 VA will last very long. I have no booster currently, and do have several locos, decoders, and square meters of layout.

/Lars

OK,
I was one message behind, sorry.
/Lars

Sorry Andy,
the idea is right, if there is space. Sorry I don't have any schema. But I wonder,
do you mean 10 mF? I don't think so, that should be far mot than enough and not fit on the board. 10 uF (micro Farad)? That seems too little to me.

Regards,
Lars