It has been a long time coming.

Exactly two (or three?) years ago at the Toy Fair Viessmann showed off their
turnout motor+decoder rolled in one unit to everyone's applause.
It was a modeler's dream: true to prototype very slow and quite point movement,
single unit construction and it could be used with virtually any track system.
Naturally, it could be installed under Marklin C turnouts and double-slips.
Pre-orders poured in, however Viessmann could not deliver the unit to market.
Every year I asked and every year I was told that production is delayed
(no kidding).

Well, finally Viessmann is producing the unit and is plowing through several
thousands of pre-orders one unit at a time. I asked , I smiled ,
I cursed , I threatened and I begged , but I was able to
claim one of these coveted units for myself at the Fair!

Below is my review of Viessmann 4554 digital motor.




Instructions are in both German and English and, in general, are pretty good.
But that bag sure looks intimidating...





Good news for Marklin track users is that only one of those long arms marked
1,2 and 3 is needed, depending on single, triple of double-slip turnout.



You pop open the small cover (no special tools required)



And then place specified arm in the cavity. I will say that this part
was a bit vague, as there is no clear track to slide and no snap
to hear, you just place the arm as per instruction on the page and hope
that it will work (it did). Then you put the cover back on.



Last step is familiar one, connect the arm and use supplied small screws to
fasten 4554 under turnout.


Connecting wires is fairly easy process. Default address is #1 and I did not
mess with trying to change it.

And so here is the final result: short video of just installed 4554 motor in action:



Might be a bit underwhelming on the video, but to this reviewer it looks absolutely
smashing, especially compared to clickety-clack of normal solenoids. Now just imagine
quite and slow movements of several of these 4554's setting up the route and compare it
to machine gun fire you normally hear and the point of these Viessmann motors is really
beginning to emerge. (By the way, my camera was virtually on top of the turnout, you barely
hear any sound when standing at some distance from it.) Viessmann says that 4554 is
virtually "maintenance free", however it does suggest a drop of lubricant every six
months or so.

Disclaimer: reviewer is a big fan of all things Viessmann and he also peddles Viessmann
products to unsuspecting public.

Michael

I finally got this unit permanently installed in my layout. I like it's operation so far...only time will tell on reliability. One issue, at least with K track, is that the throw length of the motor has very little if any overshoot, so you have to get the motor exactly positioned for it to work properly, otherwise the points will not close completely in one direction of the other. Once properly positioned, it works great.

Hello. I am also user of Viessmann 4554 turnout switch machine.



This machine have 2 separate buzzing motions per 1 command :
1)- Main motion.
2)- Motion to the middle position.

In addition:

3)Therefore this turnout has an unnecessary, excess move if accepts command to swich into the same position.

"2" and "3" - Is not so realistic buzzing!!!

Video Demonstration:


Can i cancel it by CV programming of internal DCC decoder?
May be another methods of cancellations exists?
How to cancel excess motion to the same position?

---

Thanks,
Vadim