I have a small experimental layout with 8 switches. I also have a Märklin Control Station 2 (60213) and a 60 VA transformer (60052). When I was at my nearest dealer to buy two k83s (60830) there was only one left, but he had an ESU SwitchPilot (51800) which I consequently bought - it should be (more than) compatible...

But I have a problem with the SwitchPilot - it doesn't switch consistently. Sometimes I have to press the "keyboard" on the CS2 several times for it to react. I tried to measure the output to the switches and it looks as if the SwitchPilot never even gets the message to switch. The k83 lies first in the chain with the SwitchPilot secondly, getting power from the digital line (as the k83).

(The k83 never fails, I might add.)

I tried to increase the "switching duration", but it has no effect. The default value works as bad as 500 msecs.

Does anybody have any clue of how to diagnose my problem? Is this a known issue with the CS2 and SwitchPilot?

Update: I moved the power-feed to the ESU so that it got power (and digital signal) before the k83 and I feel it improved the situation a little, but not enough to let any switches controlled by the ESU be part of a route...

I also connected a lightbulb in parallell with the output to the switches and it lit up whenever the switch was operated, but remained dark whenever the operation failed.

It has a switch with three positions (K83 - custom - K84). When you set it to K83 or K84 it works automagically with Märklin, just as a K83 or K84. You connect it to the layout and press a button on it and a LED starts blinking, then you manouver a switch on the keyboard and the LED lights up again, and now it has its address.

That worked as a charm. There are two servo outputs and some other stuff, but as far as I understand it's not usable with Märklin-protocol.

It looks like a nice device since you can program the address so easily, and it doubles as a K84.

Manual at: http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/...anuals/digital-decoders/

Update: I just downloaded StEG from sourceforge and hooked stuff up. It (StEG) actually works, at least as far as I tested it. I downloaded the source code and had a look and figured out that I could use StEG with only one computer if all I was interested in was the commands send from the CS2. I can clearly see that a command is sent to the ESU-device whenever I "throw a switch". The ESU does not always respond. What a shame.

I'll try to use separate power feed to it (as well as checking all the cables again). I'll probably still buy another k83 from M and use that for switches (if it works) and let the ESU function as a k84 for lighting instead.

On the bright side - looking at the code for StEG makes me pretty confident I can write my own computer controller talking to the CS2 directly over the LAN. I need an s88 now...

You can of course not blame Märklin if e.g. the SwitchPilot does not work with the Märklin controller. But Märklin can hardly deny you the warranty on the CS2 just because you connected e.g. a SwitchPilot to it. If they wanted to do that (which I don't think they want) they would have to show that any damage on the CS2 was actually caused by the non-Märklin device. Those things are not solely up to the manufacturer to decide. There are laws for protection of the consumers and these laws are valid regardless of what is written in the producer's disclaimers.

Of course I can't be sure of that, but since all commands sent FROM the CS2 to the switches, lokos etc is logged by StEG it would be really strange if commands sent to the ESU (which the CS2 knows nothing about, it just knows there's a device there) would be the only sent to the Ethernet port but not to the track.

Update:

Replaced the SwitchPilot with a Märklin k83 and that one works flawlessly. Not one single missed switching so far. What remains now is to see if there's a problem with the switchpilot itself or if I can make it work better using an external power feed. I'll also test it as a k84 and see if that works better.

I forget one more thing:
Marklins CS2 is not ready by using DCC products,just only MM and or mfx.
ESU switchpilot can been using in both DCC and MM.
It´s still strange,that CS2 with MM cannot accept switchpilot who also has MM.
Why not...?
Specialcode number needs perhaps...?
Marklins update not complete ready...?
Or ESUs switchpilot not in function with CS2 yet...?
ESU must change switchpilot,just to accept CS2...?

Goofy

It would be cool if someone else could test this. And no, I haven't tested it with external power, I fed it with with the digital power and that might have been the problem, I realize that. But now I have two k83 and the SwitchPilot. Since the routes now works as expected I will try to use the switchpilot with the uncouplers (and then I will feed it from the "magnetics" transformer I already got).

Otherwise I would guess it will work fine as a k84 switching on and off other functions - functions not as critical as routes.

Marklin too...! [}:)]

Goofy

Could be it is a compatibility issue with the CS2 and 3rd party items. Empirejosef has opened a thread detailing similar problems with using a CS2 and Viessmann 5211 K83's.

https://www.marklin-user...ult.aspx?g=posts&t=12629

Is there anyone in this forum with a CS2 and an oscilloscope?

If you record the waveform of the command from the CS2 to the accessiories it would be easy to say whether the problem is in the CS2 or in the other equipment. Unfortunately I can't do it myself since I don't have a CS2.

Attached the ESU to two un-couplers and feed it separately from its own transformer. It still misses from time to time. If I hold down the "button" on the memory page eventually it fires, but it can take up to a second or so...

I don't know what to think about this.

You should try to feed the switch pilot with separate transformer...
On French forums I have read many things about this item. It seems that it is not so easy to settle...For example : it is hard to make it work correctly with Peco motors (in fact : some people didn't succeed)..but it works with Roco solenoïds....
Did you try to reprogramm it ? did you try a reset ,value 8 in CV 8 ?
Did you modify the impulse in all outputs ?
Are you sure to handle CS2 with DCC in a correct way (switch pilot must be programmed in DCC)
If you use only one trafo did you try to connect the decoder in the way shown on the manual, track & power together ?
I have noticed something : people who succeed to run those DCC decoders have separate power (separate trafo)...

Edited by user 29 March 2010 15:09:44(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I was talking about programmation/reprogrammation with CV values: I think that it can be done in DCC only...I may be wrong about it ( myself I don't have any switch pilot decoder).
Also it seems that reading CV values is not easy, sometimes you have to connect a small electrical consumer (60/80 ml Amp, bulb)
OLLE 3770 says that he was commuting from the Memory, did he try from the keyboard as well ?
Fortunately there is a kind of easy process for the adress...To handle sequences of automatic programmation, is also a matter of timing
... people have to try several times...

No - the RailCom-feedback of the SwitchPilot will not work with the CS2! The TurnoutChef4 on the other hand will send feedback to the CS2 (which is an extended "K83").

Just a note for those who are thinking about using the ESU SwitchPilot as a K84.

In K84-mode the consumers are electrified directly by the SwitchPilot! The SwitchPilot delivers some 20V DIRECT CURRENT on the "middle" terminal, thus it's not directly equivalent to the M* K84. The original is equipped with a relay and you power it yourself (possibly using AC).

If this is a problem or not is up to you to decide, but I thought it would be good to know.

Pimanel,

I do not have a Switchpilot but I did look into one when I was looking for a less expensive solution to Marklin's K83/K84. I thought I found out to make it truly act like a K84 that you needed to to buy the Switchpilot extension which gives you the relay outputs like a K84. From reading the Switchpilot manual, I assume when you put the Switchpilot in K83 mode you get a pulse output. When in K84 you get a constant output. Of course instead of buying the Switchpilot extension another solution would be to make your own relay board and use bistable relays in K83 mode or non bistable relays in K84 mode. I believe there is a member here on the forum in Europe selling a bistable relay at a very inexpensive price. I have found a relay here in the USA that I got for around $2.50 if I bought 25, cheaper if you buy more. Once again, I do not have a Switchpilot so I stand corrected if an owner of one has a different veiwpoint.

Hope this helps.

Robert