marklin-users.net community | Forum
»
General topics
»
Digital
»
Can I use current conducting couplers on a loco?
Joined: 01/02/2007(UTC) Posts: 729 Location: Ontario
|
Hi all, I was thinking of installing the current conducting couplers on the coaches so that I avoid installing pick-up shoes. The current would be drawn from the locomotive, meaning that whenever the loco lights go on, the lights in coaches go on too. Now, would I be able to install and use the current conducting couplers on the loco as well? many thanks for shedding light on this. |
DRG, DB and SBB Era II, III and IV Sincerely, Sebastian |
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,454 Location: Scotland
|
Yes. This is the best way to do it I think and most of my coaches are lit this way. It works really well with two pole couplers but I find the Viesmann ones unreliable. One other point to get the wires from the loco decoder to the coupler I find that it can be best to drill a small hole in the loco where this can not be seen. All locos are different and HAG can be awkward but by experimenting you can get flicker free lighting controlled by the decoder. Ron think does this and may be able to add to the above.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
Yes I do. I use single pole RTS couplers. Multi-pole would be better than relying on the ground from the cars, but I like the RTS couplers since they interface with normal Marklin ones. In most cases, I have been able to route the wire into the lok without modifying the lok. I think I have had to drill two or three of them, though.
For providing power to the lights in the coaches, DO NOT attach the wire from the coupler directly to a decoder output. This will overload the decoder with a few coaches attached. Either connect it directly to the feed from the center rail pukos, in which case the coaches will always be lit when connected; or to a relay controlled by the decoder so you can control it. I have done both. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2007(UTC) Posts: 729 Location: Ontario
|
So Marklin has one pole couplers? What is the difference between one pole and two pole? I have seen that Marklin is coming out with a new set of current conducting couplers this summer. Maybe these new ones are the two pole? What will be the advantage of using two pole vs one pole? |
DRG, DB and SBB Era II, III and IV Sincerely, Sebastian |
|
|
|
Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC) Posts: 11,071 Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
|
One Pole means One Wire Connection. Two Pole Means 2 Wires /Connection. Marklin CCC are as far as I Know Single Pole Some-one will correct me if I am Wrong.
Nev |
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders and a hose pipe on the aorta Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: 03/10/2005(UTC) Posts: 284 Location: Australia
|
Do you still need a relay if you are using the new LED lighting strips connected directly to the decoder. ie 73400 or similiar. These would draw less power than the normal globes and I think you could have a few coaches without a problem - further comment on this would be appreciated.
Diesel |
Ecos 50200, Software 4.1.2 Marklin HO K track, EcosBoost, Traincontroller Gold V9.0,B2, All track power via EcosBoost Separate programing siding. Decoders- Lokpilot V2,Lokpilotv3, Lok V4, LoksoundV4, Loksound V5, Marklin MFX and Marklin Fx. Internet Exlporer 11.0, Win 7 |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
You would probably be ok with up to 20 or so led's, but you have an opportunity for disaster since you might add too many coaches, or possibly short the circuit to the rail and blow your decoder. I would advise against it. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2007(UTC) Posts: 729 Location: Ontario
|
My intention is to have a maximum of six coaches per train and even then I do believe is a bit too long, but let's say six. So how shall I proceed so that I am not burning the decoder, there is enough power to properly light the coaches and the loco and enough power to operate the consist without jerking of the loco? |
DRG, DB and SBB Era II, III and IV Sincerely, Sebastian |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
There is enough power, but you should either hook the wore for the CCC in the lok directly to the power input from the pukos or through a relay. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 27/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 692 Location: Italy
|
Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by nevw <br />One Pole means One Wire Connection. Two Pole Means 2 Wires /Connection. Marklin CCC are as far as I Know Single Pole Some-one will correct me if I am Wrong.
Nev
Ron is discouraging it, even though two poles are needed if want to connect the coaches lighting to one of the free F functions of the decoder. |
Alessandro I have a CS1 Reloaded! |
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,454 Location: Scotland
|
I agree with Ron. Connect to the decoder track pickups and you will not have any problems. You can save on current coupling by running two wires through the train This can look quite good and if they are connected by pins and sockets to the coach lighting bar then to uncouple the train you only need to remove to coach roofs. There are lots of ways to do this and I would suggest to experiment with one coach and loco and see which you like best. If you have plenty of cash to spare you can have a decoder in each coach and control the lighting individually.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by frankie Ron is discouraging it, even though two poles are needed if want to connect the coaches lighting to one of the free F functions of the decoder.
Not true. I control the coaches with a decoder function with one pole. I use the coach ground to return the current to the tracks. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 27/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 692 Location: Italy
|
Wouldn't this cause some flickering? I always read that to avoid flickering one must use the decoder "ground" instead of the track return.
|
Alessandro I have a CS1 Reloaded! |
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2007(UTC) Posts: 729 Location: Ontario
|
Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by David Dewar <br />If you have plenty of cash to spare you can have a decoder in each coach and control the lighting individually.
David
So on the CS then, I would see the 4, 5, or 6 coaches that have one function, the light and that's it? No need for the pick-up shoe for each coach, just the one that the loco has? This leads me to another thing. The freight box cars that have a marker light at one end. Suppose you have a freight train and the last car is a box car which has a marker light installed. And when the loco's lights turn on, the marker light turns on as well. |
DRG, DB and SBB Era II, III and IV Sincerely, Sebastian |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by frankie <br />Wouldn't this cause some flickering? I always read that to avoid flickering one must use the decoder "ground" instead of the track return.
No, because the power is not coming from the decoder but from track power through the contacts on a relay in the lok. The relay is driven by the decoder and does return through the decoder function common. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 01/02/2007(UTC) Posts: 729 Location: Ontario
|
The main thing is that I am trying to avoid using pick-up shoes onany of the cars/coaches, in preparation for signals on the layout. I apologize for making it harder by asking so many questions. |
DRG, DB and SBB Era II, III and IV Sincerely, Sebastian |
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
No problem, Sebastian. That is how we learn. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 27/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 692 Location: Italy
|
Thanks for your patience[:I] |
Alessandro I have a CS1 Reloaded! |
|
|
|
Joined: 18/09/2005(UTC) Posts: 502 Location: , Texas
|
Can you guys post some pictures of your variouis conversions? I am thinking about doing this myself to keep all the lights from being on while the train is just sitting there.
Bob
|
|
|
|
Joined: 16/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 5,382 Location: Akershus, Norway
|
I have done this two ways, both with small monostable relays: Current from the locomotive: A function output controls a small relay installed inside the locomotive, the current is transferred either via a wire to the cars or via current conducting couplers. Current from one of the cars, with it's own pick-up shoe: An output from the 60960 or 60961 function decoder controls a small relay installed inside the locomotive, the current is transferred either via a wire to the other cars or via current conducting couplers. The connection: The relay coil is connected to a function output from the decoder (negative) and to the orange wire, which is a rectified plus (positive). The relay switch input is connected to the "B" (center contact) from the pick-up shoe, the output is connected to the light circuit for the cars. In this case, the bulbs are connected to ground in each car. In case of LED car illumination, a bridge rectifier must be installed in every car to avoid the flickering light. Example of a convertion, including white and red light in the control car, also controlled by relays, can be found at http://www.saebonet.com/Tog/3071.htm |
Best regards Svein, Norway grumpy old sod
|
|
|
|
Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
|
Bob: I was going to take few pix for you this weekend, but we had our grandson for the weekend and that absorbed just about all our free time! Be home again Tuesday...I'll try then. |
|
|
|
|
Joined: 18/09/2005(UTC) Posts: 502 Location: , Texas
|
Ron,
It is not a problem. Look forward to seeing some of your pictures of your craftsmanship when you have the time.
Take care,
Bob
|
|
|
|
marklin-users.net community | Forum
»
General topics
»
Digital
»
Can I use current conducting couplers on a loco?
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.