Can a ms1 power a one gauge loco?

Hi,

I did two snips out of the manual:

What the switches do:


The adresses:


Regards

Markus

Not into 1-Gauge myself, but I suspect some things are common with H0..

Short version - all decoder electronics + speaker should be replaced.

Longer version - The sound decoder is a Märklin one and if you change the basic decoder board, the sound piggyback module will not work. So you will need a new sound module for the DCC decoder too, or use a DCC decoder with sound capabilities as eg the LokSound XL. However, the speaker may not have the correct impedance to work with eg LokSound XL and may have to be replaced too.

Keep in mind that the booster unit that comes with the MS2 has 2 versions - 60113 is for H0 and has a 1.9 amp output current, and 60112 for 1 Gauge, which has a higher output current for 1 Gauge locos (can't remember the exact current rating). You should check which version you have, as if you have the wrong one, maybe your large 1 Gauge locos are simply not getting enough power.

In an earlier post I did say that I bought a Gauge 1 start set which included the Mobile Station so it has to be a version built for the larger locomotives.

I haven't previously looked closely at it but I see that the transformer is rated at 3.75A ( 60VA ). Naturally it's much heavier than the HO version.
It certainly has enough power to move both Br 18s which are 4-6-2 express locomotives and the 2-6-0 Br89 from the set at the same time.

The set is number 55036 "Freight Train Digital Starter Set" and I've added a picture of the contents. It was very good value : The loco has full MFX sound and has operating couplings both ends, three goods wagons and an oval of track complete with a siding and buffers.

Two friends and I bought three sets between us and obtained a very good deal : Each cost us around €750 all in, I think. But this was some years ago !

For more than 25 years I've been buying most of my Railway items from Matschke Modellbahn in Wuppertal.
The current owner is Carsten Laag who speaks excellent English and is very happy to ship items abroad and help with repairs.
Items always arrive very well packaged. Carsten has excellent levels of new stock and well priced secondhand items in all gauges.

You can sign up for his Friday evening weekly newsletter at http://www.matschke.org/ and his email is info@matschke.org

Thanks to David for your advice - sorry for getting the loco number wrong and causing confusion !

With Lenz, the hand held controller and processor unit provide digital instructions to overlay the power output from the transformer to the amplifier so it is these last two that ultimately dictates the power available to the locos. Each Lenz amp/transformer combo you add runs up to 5A so you divide the circuit into multiple sections, each of a size where 5A is sufficient for your needs.

I thought that the 60652 Mobile Station provides the signals to the processor and in the same way the transformer dictates the power available ( in this case 3.75A ).
Is this not right with Marklin ?


With the help of a friend and members of this forum in only a few hours yesterday we managed to get both the Br18s to work properly with the MS.
On a straight test track I ran the 91, BR18.478 and S 3/6 simultaneously, all off the MS. Admittedly it was on the flat and without coaches or wagons in tow.


I'm just having discussions with Carsten Laag on what to use to run my proposed garden railway :

For HO indoors I have Lenz divided into two sections, each with a 5A amp amplifier/transformer combination. I recently bought the computer interface and am experimenting with iPad control.

The planned garden layout will eventually have a decent run of single track with passing places but intend to keep the track plan simple so digital control is not absolutely essential. The aim is to sit, drink in hand and watch two or three trains running - no hard work like shunting etc.

I have Marklin models and PECO Gauge 1 track collected over many years and also some US motive power bought in the States from Aristocraft.
The pride of the collection is a Accucraft Gauge 1 Big Boy but that's a DC locomotive with twin Pitman 24v motors and sound. It requires a minimum of 2.5A @ 24v and, although I haven't looked, I'm not sure there is a DCC decoder that can handle the beast !

The roster consists of :

The 24v DC Big Boy

Two Marklin MFX Sound Locos
Four Marklin MX Sound Locos
One Marklin Digital Loco without sound
Three older Marklin AC locos

Five Aristocraft DCC compatible locos currently without decoders. ( But we don't necessarily need to operate US and Marklin at the same time0.


The options would appear to be :

Non Digital
Use the four Gauge 1 Marklin AC controllers I already have and separately use DC for the non-Marklin locos.
Extremely cheap but limited control. More complicated wiring needing individual sections = Less reliability outdoors in the British climate.

Digital All under DCC : Advantage : all kit can be run at the same time.

Convert everything to DCC and

Option 1
run using one of the wireless US DCC systems designed for garden railways
Quite costly as at least four extra sound decoders need to be bought to replace the MX Marklin ones.

Option 2
Buy more lenz kit : Build the Amps and transformers into a portable waterproof housing and borrow one or two hand held controllers from the indoor layout.
Easy as Lenz is familiar, but the amplifiers are limted to 5A each so might need to buy two or three. Not quite so expensive as the next two options but will not be wireless. ( iPad control with computer etc would be too complicated for the garden )


Keep Marklin and US separate :

Option 1
Run Marklin on the existing Mobile Station accepting that it's very limited but in stock.
I actually have access to a second identical Mobile station with 3.7A transformer so could divide the layout into two sections and double the capacity.
Cheapest option as it's all in stock ! Use plain DC : or buy US DCC wireless kit for the rest.

Option 2
Buy an ECos 50200 or Marklin S2 which can handle both DCC and Motorola but not at the same time.
More expensive initially but offset by not having to buy new DCC sound decoders for the four non-MFX Marklin locos.
Optional wireless control with the ECoS but at what cost ?


I would welcome some thoughts or can anybody suggest some better options ?

No, as Markus points out, the MS1 is limited to 1.9 amps (providing the transformer you are using with it can deliver 1.9 amps). As I pointed out, using a larger capacity transformer does not increase the MS1's power output. The MS2 has 2 options - 60113 booster is for H0 and outputs 1.9 amps, and 60112 booster is for 1 Gauge and outputs more than 1.9 amps (but I'm not sure what the figure is).




The CS2 has a maximum current output of 5 amps (when used with the 60101 power supply - make sure you get the latest 60215 CS2, earlier versions may not output 5 amps). The 60124 booster also outputs 5 amps (when used with the 60101 power supply).

The Ecos outputs 4 amps, but the Ecos boosters come in 2 versions - 4 amp output for H0 use and 8 amp output for 1 Gauge use. Both boosters come with appropriate power supplies included in the price.

As far as wireless remotes go, you can use the Mobile Station app with an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and wireless network router with the CS2. There is also the Main Station app that can be used on an iPad - this has more features than the Mobile Station app.

For the Ecos, you can use the Touchcab app with an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and wireless network router as a remote control device. ESU also sell the Ecos Radiocontrol device, a handheld wireless remote control device.

Hi,

But you should consider, that the ECOS can deliver DCC and MM-format simultaneously. So you don't need any new decoders.

Regards

Markus

Hi,

I think you mean the Märklin CS2. Yes: The CS2 can do that also. Also the MS2 has the multi-protocol ability, but limited to 1.9 Amp.

Regards

Markus

Are you talking about a product Marklin makes, because I'm not aware of any Marklin built booster that can deliver 10 amps.

There may be other manufacturers boosters that can deliver 10 amps, but these will not handle mfx like the Marklin and ESU boosters do. That may not be such a big issue in this case. The other thing is if the 3rd party 10 amp booster was designed for use with the older Marklin 6021 controller (but also works with the CS2), then it will also work with an Ecos.

As for pricing, here are the Lokshop prices for the 8 amp EcosBoost and the Ecos ControlRadio


50011 ECoSBoost, ext. booster 8A, DCC/MOT/SX/mfx®, power supply 110-240V, EU+US 399 EUR

http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...gital-control/ecosboost/


50111 ECoSControl Radio handheld + receiving module for ECoS, German & English manual 259 EUR

http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...ntrol/ecoscontrol-radio/