Hello all,

I have a question about connecting CS2 version 60214 and analog AC transformer 6647 grounds together. Is this safe and possible?

The only reason for doing this is that I would like to run my analog electric locos from AC powered catenary with my analog 6647 white transformer. All my digital steam, diesel and electric locos will run at the same time from track power with CS2 60214. So I need to connect my analog 6647 transformers ground to track ground as otherwise it is not possible to run any analog electric locos at the same tracks as digital locos.

But is this safe or is my CS2 getting damaged if grounds are connected at tracks? If not possible, then catenary will only be for looks and not operating/electrified. It would be great if this kind of connection between the grounds would be possible. Then I could remove also sliders/pick-up shoes from my analog electric locos and have less noise. Only analog locos wheels would "see" the common ground and not to worry about central studs getting any electric to loco or loco disturbing Digital track signals if it's motor somehow would send electricity through the slider back to center track. I'm not an electric engineer so I don't understand much of this. Safest to remove sliders anyway if this is otherwise possible to connect grounds?

I read from my powered catenary mast instructions that with Märklin Systems (CS and MS) it is not possible to make this kind of connection. There is a warning about this. The reason why I want to still ask is that does it have something to do with how CS2 60214 and 6647 AC transformer are shielded or isolated? Was it so that this newer 6647 white transformer is better protected than previous AC transformers? Also CS2 60214 and 60215 have better shielding or isolation than the earlier versions.

I will have catenary at my outer main line. It will cost me around 600 euro when I do it ready. Now I have only two 144 cm test catenary sections at my outer bridges and I would like to test the one with powered mast. It would be great to get my older electric locos powered with real powered catenary. It feels then more like "worth the moneys" if this is possible.

Many thanks in advance from answers again!

Best regards,

Janne

I found the manual.
They say that MS or CS should not be used to power the catenary.

Here they say it can be mixed:


Here they say "don't use MS/CS with catenary:

That's the sign for galvanic isolation, so you should be able to use 5 A with 100 VA power supply (which is not recommended for H0 gauge by Märklin).

Hello,

I just tested my analog catenary test section when CS2 was powered also. Everything works just fine!

I ran one of my SBB 3050 that is digitalised with older Märklin 6080 decoder from track power (CS2) and old Austrian ÖBB 3036 analog from AC catenary at the same time. That analog 3036 has less noise as it don't have slider anymore and analog motor is more quiet than digitalised (6080) 3050's motor.

Some of my older locos don't like wide radius turnouts. They cut track power for a short moment when they run over them sometimes. If sliders causes this then no problem when running without them. It can be the old style wheels that causes these power cut offs which happen only on wide radius turnouts for some strange reason . I hope that my analog electric locos will not do this when I get my catenary over two of them at my outer mainline.

Best regards,

Janne