Hi Alan,

I wish I could help,but I'm not sure on any of your questions.

I reckon everyone's sitting outside in this glorious sunshine we're having.

It's getting near time for the Perth run,you up for it again.

Ian.

In my starter set manual, it says the following:

"With other Marklin operating systems, you sometimes find the note that signals can be used as return conductors for lighting of the track. This, however is not possible with Marklin Systems. As such, use only supports without an electrical connection to the track for signals and separately connect the return conductor for lighting as shown in the respective terminal diagrams." I assume that this means that I must not use the metal base to mount the signal to the M track, is that correct?

My starter set manual also shows a diagram for connecting a 7286 turntable. It shows a track isolating point to the left of the turntable and a current feed between the isolator and the turntable. Does that mean that the 7186 turntable must have the same setup? Do all tracks from the turntable to the main layout need to be isolated, ie the turntable is completely insulated from the whole layout?

If this is the case, how does the digital signal operate when the loco is on the turntable? The Marklin Systems documentation seems to imply that the digital system and any other components must not have any common grounding, whatever the heck that might be. Again, can someone please explain what this means?

I know that I must sound a pain, but I really do not have a clue I have just spent money on converting a loco to digital and will be using this as my "guinea pig" for testing. I do not want to get this wrong.

I really need a total idiots guide. I have searched high and low on the internet for a suitable diagram, to no avail. I have even emailed Marklin Service and Marklin Customer Service and have not even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

If there is any member out there who has installed a 7186 on their Marklin systems digital layout, please draw me a simple diagram and email it to me. I would be eternally grateful.

Hi, Stuart!

A single shared connection is no problem.
In general it's safe to connect all brown wires (except for the brown wire of the transformer that feeds a new digital controller like CS or MS; no problem with CU 6021 and Delta Controls).

I run a CS2 to run my trains on M track. I have all the turnouts and my crane & 7186 powered by separate transformers. The 7186 is controlled by the original controller. All share the same ground. Tracks, turnouts, crane, 7186 and CS2.

For instance, the turnouts have a yellow wire that goes to a group of them that go to a yellow on a transformer. The two blues go to a toggle switch. the transformer brown goes to a common brown junction plate(s) that the CS2 is also connected to. The same applies to the 7186.

Eric

A single connection between two unrelated electric curcuits is no problem.

A common return wire is the only way to operate the Märklin railroad crossings - analog or digital, even with C and K track.

Thanks everyone. I DO want the TT tracks to be digital, but I just want to do the TT rotation old school with a separate blue trafo, from what you're all saying it works fine simply to connect the return paths of both the blue trafo and digital track return together and therefore it doesn't matter at all that the TT motors and track return are connected. Brill! Simple!

Cheers

Stuart