Basically, all locos can be upgraded, provided that it is enough space inside the loco for a decoder.
There are a lot of different decoder suppliers, who supplies decoders for the motors with electro field magnet (All-strom motor, most of the 33xx, 34xx and 36xx locos have this), and decoders for the permanent magnet motors (DC motors, most of the 37xx locos have this).

Märklin supplies three different complete sets containing all the nessecary part for rebuilding most of the locos.

The Br 52 can be "lifted" to a five-star high performance motor, e.g. with the 60921 mfx rebuilding set, or with the 60921 motor parts and the 60931 mfx steam engine sound module.
You can of course also use other decoders, but I have no excperience with those.

The Br 80 can also be converted with the 60921 mfx set. Probably it has not enough space for a sound module and a speaker.

But, I do not know if you can find an accurate list containing all the rebuilding possibilities.

I have also seen some of those lists, but I think there are quite a lot of locos which are farely easy to convert with one of Märklin's sets that are not listed at all.
Some places I have even seen that some locos are "impossible" to convert with Märklin's sets, which I have converted myself without any problems.

But, the list is a good guideline. And, as Richard says, amongst the members of this forum (and other places) I think "everything" have been converted, so just ask! Someone always knows something

No, in general the only necessary step to have non-flickering lights is to connect the ground of the bulb to the decoder instead of the chassis. In case of Märklin decoders: orange wire, other decoders (like ESU): the blue wire. Almost all light sockets originally connected to the chassis can be modified by inserting a smaller fitting (with two wires) into the existing one.

Further, about converting with sound, see for an overview of possible locos: http://www.loksound.de/index.php?showId=172 (only in German, but understandable for almost everyone)

Hi,

unfortunatly the 33043 is equiped with an Delta Decoder board which integrates the bulb sockets. The old style circuit board for the bulbs #240120 is no longer availible from Maerklin. Owning the BR80-Museums Edition, I'am facing the same problem. I will convert the loco with a 60901 Upgrade kit and will probably build a do-it-yourself board for the front and rear bulbs.

Trainbuff, some general information about the flicering light:

In analog operation, the current to the track has a sinus waveform.

In digital operation, the power is in square form, approx +/- 22 volts. This square waveform contains the digitals signals to the locomotives and different other decoders, as well as the power supply.

The function (light) output from the different decoders is rectified, only containing the negative part of the square waveform. Therefore, the light flickers when the "other end" of the bulb is connected to the loco chassis. Only the negative part of the waveform is used. You can see a different "flicking pattern", according to the digital signal "trains" sent from the digital controller to the tracks. In some decoders you may even hear it.

The orange wire is positive, after the rectifier in the decoder. If using that one instead of the loco chassis, you use the benefit of a fully rectified current. The light becomes flicker free.

It is possible to fit your own orange wire to any decoder, if you can find the four rectifing diodes. On the decoders for the "Allstrom-motor" (the old 6080 and the normal delta decoders) you have a black wire going to one of the brush holders on the motor cover. On the 6090 (see photo) you have to make it yourself.

This black or orange is positive. It can basically be used "as is" for your bulbs, but it is recommended to fit a 2,7 Volt Zener diode to it, to keep the decoders memory e.g. in front of a red light, to remembers it's driving direction and -speed. If a 1,5 kOhm resistor is installed in parallell to the signal braker switch, that is.


An old 3000 fitted with a 60903 motor and a 6090 decoder.

Orange arrow: positive end of diode rectifier (cathode).
Purple arrow: "home made" positive output, after a 2,7 volt zener diode, it's cathode facing the rectifier's cathode. This is then used for the bulbs. The bulbs must be insulated from the loco body.

Puuuh Confused? Me too

Sorry if I confused you, trainbuff.

The 6090 decoders have no "orange +". The decoders from newer high performance motor convertion sets have (normal decoders 60901 to -04, mfx decoders 60921 to -24 and the mfx sound decoders 60931 to -33).

The orange wire in the BR 80 is home made, as described about the BR 89.

The part numbers can be found under http://www.maerklin.de/service/...uktservice/miexploh0.php

Thanks for everybody's help! I just installed a 60760 in a BR 80 (33043)!

My first time and it went pretty well. Everything seems to be working, it runs much much better and the lights don't flicker.

I'm still finishing the light bulb holder....

I now have the confidence to buy older locomotives and upgrade them myself. Thanks again!

Now what to do with a left over delta decoder?

I though you all may be interested to see this picture of the beginnings of my bulb holder (for the 33043). I got a white led and some resistors and it looks like it will fit and work. You can see the old bulb, the larger led, the delta decoder and my homemade bulb holder. Since I will have to solder the bulb in place, I may as well use a longer lasting led. Your thoughts? Thanks.

Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 15:08:26(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Another pro/con: bulbs have even light distribution (360 deg), so they work in ANY position. A good example are the light conductors where a single bulb will often provide light sideways (to the bottom two lights) as well as upwards (to the top light). Just open up an old 3072 or 3031/32 and you'll get the idea.

On the contrary, most LEDs have a limited viewing angle (60, 120 deg), so the light is very "directional". This makes LEDs less suitable for use with the light conductors that you find in so many locomotives.

Thanks for the comments on led pros and cons. My main reason for using led is to be maintenance free.

I tested the front light collector and it seems to transmit well. It must be a lucky combination of led (radio shack 5mm white 3.6 volt, 1100mcd) and light collector. I better check the back light collector before committing.

The color did seem modern, like halogen automobile head lights. I imagine an old locomotive would have more of a yellowish tint. But I think I could live with it considering what the lights looked like as a Delta loc.

There is a yellow/white led advertised here http://www.sodigi.com/Supplies.htm that claims to "appear like an incandescent bulb". Intruder, is this the type of yellow led you mentioned? In any case I'm going to give these a try and will let you all know.

Finished with BR 80,

Not easy upgrade since a new lamp holder needs to be constructed.

I decided to use a "yellowish" led, Yeloglo White LED by Miniatronics instead the first white led I tested. The yellowish light was very directional so I mounted two leds in front to be sure the light collector would get enough light.



Here is picture of bulb holder and 60760 installed.



I colored the holder black because it is visible from above between the boiler and the tanks.



And finally a night shoot. Is it too ledish? I don't know.


I'm done!

If you told me, four months ago when I bought my first starter set, that I would be installing a decoder, I would have said, what's a decoder? Now back to playing with trains....

Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 15:07:51(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Great job on the decoder install.

Ira

Thanks for the compliments. I owe it to the folks on this forum.

By the way, the led lights do not look anything like the bulbs in my other steam locomotive.

That's a pretty good job of tracing the circuit and modifying it to work! If I understand the pictures right, you are using the old board for ground (gold arrow) in addition to the lights. Thanks for sharing.