 Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Hello! I am completely new to this hobby (and electronics in general). Therefore I am experiencing a bit of frustration when I'm trying to start up my newly acquired Märklin Z set. I have many questions but the first obstacle experienced is causing me a lot of trouble, I simply don't get how to connect this stuff. Here is a picture to show You what my problem is. Can someone please help me how to connect this. I am sorry for probably asking for help to a very banal and easy "problem".  Big thanks in advance! I am so eager to start this hobby.
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 Joined: 11/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 488
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Welcome to the form where there is no dumb question. I do not have the same transformer for my HO set but try pushing in the connectors on the transformer. You will see that they spring back and forth. Next take a screwdriver and disconnect the "banana" plugs from your wires and put the wirers into the connectors matching the colors on your wires. Push in the connector first before you do this and make sure there is a bare wire showing as the insulation from the wire will not make a proper connection. The colors correspond as such: Brown earth (Ground) Yellow constant voltage as for lights and Red variable voltage to run loks - Fred
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: SteamNut  Welcome to the form where there is no dumb question. I do not have the same transformer for my HO set but try pushing in the connectors on the transformer. You will see that they spring back and forth. Next take a screwdriver and disconnect the "banana" plugs from your wires and put the wirers into the connectors matching the colors on your wires. Push in the connector first before you do this and make sure there is a bare wire showing as the insulation from the wire will not make a proper connection. The colors correspond as such: Brown earth (Ground) Yellow constant voltage as for lights and Red variable voltage to run loks - Fred Thank you so so much. The "banana"plugs were my concern. The conclusion is that i don't need them. I don't understand why they were there at all. Now to my second question (since You're so helpful, i appreciate it a lot); How do i connect this and make it work? 
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 Joined: 10/07/2002(UTC) Posts: 3,298 Location: Patagonia
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Hello, welcome to the forum.
To connect your turnout, or any other double solenoid accesory, you have to connect the yellow cable to the yellow plug plug og your transfromer, that will bring power the solenoid.
Then the blue cables to a red and green sockect to the buttoneer, here you will find use to the banana plug.
Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer, just one, the other is for connection of more buttoneers..
When you push a button that will close the circuit and make the solenoid work.
Regards
Francisco |
 German trains era I-II and selected III, era depends on the mood, mostly Maerklin but i can be heretic if needed XD, heresy is no longer an issue.. LOL |
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: franciscohg Hello, welcome to the forum.
To connect your turnout, or any other double solenoid accesory, you have to connect the yellow cable to the yellow plug plug og your transfromer, that will bring power the solenoid.
Then the blue cables to a red and green sockect to the buttoneer, here you will find use to the banana plug.
Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer, just one, the other is for connection of more buttoneers..
When you push a button that will close the circuit and make the solenoid work.
Regards
Francisco Thank you so much. I will try this after i get the train running. It is now connected without turnouts. I can feel something is happening, the lights are turned on but it does barely move. Anyone know what may be the problem? Thanks in advance
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,464 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: sapa Originally Posted by: franciscohg Hello, welcome to the forum.
To connect your turnout, or any other double solenoid accesory, you have to connect the yellow cable to the yellow plug plug og your transfromer, that will bring power the solenoid.
Then the blue cables to a red and green sockect to the buttoneer, here you will find use to the banana plug.
Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer, just one, the other is for connection of more buttoneers..
When you push a button that will close the circuit and make the solenoid work.
Regards
Francisco Thank you so much. I will try this after i get the train running. It is now connected without turnouts. I can feel something is happening, the lights are turned on but it does barely move. Anyone know what may be the problem? Thanks in advance If it is old and not been used for a while the oil in the motor hardens and goes almost rock solid, stopping the motor from rotating. You may need to take the body off the loco and put a drop of something in the motor bearings to clean it out, then put a drop of light oil in to lubricate it. Be very sparing with the oil, otherwise it gets on the motor brushes and they go horrible.
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 2 users liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Originally Posted by: sapa Originally Posted by: franciscohg Hello, welcome to the forum.
To connect your turnout, or any other double solenoid accesory, you have to connect the yellow cable to the yellow plug plug og your transfromer, that will bring power the solenoid.
Then the blue cables to a red and green sockect to the buttoneer, here you will find use to the banana plug.
Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer, just one, the other is for connection of more buttoneers..
When you push a button that will close the circuit and make the solenoid work.
Regards
Francisco Thank you so much. I will try this after i get the train running. It is now connected without turnouts. I can feel something is happening, the lights are turned on but it does barely move. Anyone know what may be the problem? Thanks in advance If it is old and not been used for a while the oil in the motor hardens and goes almost rock solid, stopping the motor from rotating. You may need to take the body off the loco and put a drop of something in the motor bearings to clean it out, then put a drop of light oil in to lubricate it. Be very sparing with the oil, otherwise it gets on the motor brushes and they go horrible. Thank you very much. It turned out i was too enthusiastic, after some pushes and cleaning of the tracks it goes like a dream. I will post some videos and eventually when I'm finished with a layout that will be posted too. Right now i'm curious to see if i can handle to install the turnouts, will try later and get back to you guys if i encounter any obstacles. You are very nice, all of you for your kind willingness to help.
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1 user liked this useful post by sapa
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: sapa Originally Posted by: franciscohg Hello, welcome to the forum.
To connect your turnout, or any other double solenoid accesory, you have to connect the yellow cable to the yellow plug plug og your transfromer, that will bring power the solenoid.
Then the blue cables to a red and green sockect to the buttoneer, here you will find use to the banana plug.
Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer, just one, the other is for connection of more buttoneers..
When you push a button that will close the circuit and make the solenoid work.
Regards
Francisco Thank you so much. I will try this after i get the train running. It is now connected without turnouts. I can feel something is happening, the lights are turned on but it does barely move. Anyone know what may be the problem? Thanks in advance Hello again, I Understand everything up until "Then the side connectors to the brown socket of your transformer". The thing is that the brown socket is already in use by the other track.. What am i not grasping? Thanks in advance, really eager to set this up tonight!!! So this is what i have, how do i make sense of it? 
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 Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,225 Location: Montreal, QC
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Let's see if I can help. The red is the plus connection for the track. The brown is the minus connection for the track. The yellow is the constant voltage for accessories and the grey is the minus/return for the accessories. http://www.guidetozscale.com/html/electrical.htmlConnect the yellow wires to a hub and connect the hub to the yellow output at the rear of the transformer Connect the grey terminal with a wire to the female connection of the blue switch box using one of the plugs. Connect the wires from the switch tracks to a matching pair of female connectors (top/bottom) of the blue switch box. Since there are no plugs on the ends of the cables, you will have to test which one to connect to which. Normally, the switch would be set to straight when the green button had been pressed and to switch when the red is depressed. http://www.online-minicl...s/a_weichenschaltung.gifYou may need to purchase a roll of brown, red, yellow and grey wires if you need additional lengths. You may also need to purchase a connection box (hub) #7069, 7209, 72090 or equivalent to connect multiple accessories to the yellow terminal on the transformer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/...condition-/131284590594?http://www.ebay.de/itm/M...ne-Stecker-/201239468716I hope that this is of use. Regards Mike C
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: mike c Let's see if I can help. The red is the plus connection for the track. The brown is the minus connection for the track. The yellow is the constant voltage for accessories and the grey is the minus/return for the accessories. http://www.guidetozscale.com/html/electrical.htmlConnect the yellow wires to a hub and connect the hub to the yellow output at the rear of the transformer Connect the grey terminal with a wire to the female connection of the blue switch box using one of the plugs. Connect the wires from the switch tracks to a matching pair of female connectors (top/bottom) of the blue switch box. Since there are no plugs on the ends of the cables, you will have to test which one to connect to which. Normally, the switch would be set to straight when the green button had been pressed and to switch when the red is depressed. http://www.online-minicl...s/a_weichenschaltung.gifYou may need to purchase a roll of brown, red, yellow and grey wires if you need additional lengths. You may also need to purchase a connection box (hub) #7069, 7209, 72090 or equivalent to connect multiple accessories to the yellow terminal on the transformer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/...condition-/131284590594?http://www.ebay.de/itm/M...ne-Stecker-/201239468716I hope that this is of use. Regards Mike C Thank you very much. I'll try this tonight. Can i use whatever wire i find at the store or is it some special kind of wire? Thanks in advance
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Joined: 11/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 488
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Not really but the correct colors help tracing back their path if you have to do any troubleshooting. The gauge (thickness) should be about the same in order to use your banana plugs bring a sample to the store. If you are going to a electronics store they may have a book for beginners on electricity which may help you in the future.
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: SteamNut Not really but the correct colors help tracing back their path if you have to do any troubleshooting. The gauge (thickness) should be about the same in order to use your banana plugs bring a sample to the store. If you are going to a electronics store they may have a book for beginners on electricity which may help you in the future. This is fantastic. Everything works. I just have one more question; are the turnouts suppose to make a sound and get very hot?
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Joined: 11/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 488
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I believe in Z gauge you would hear a click sound when they are activated as with my M track turnouts which is the sound of the rails touching each other. They should not get hot which indicates they are getting constant power when they are designed for momentary (brief) power. You seem to have a old blue control box perhaps it needs to be replaced.
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 Joined: 23/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 1,828 Location: Sydney, Australia
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The sound of a Z scale turnout being thrown is more like a brief buzz, and I do mean brief - less than a second. As SteamNut has pointed out, they should NOT get hot. That indicates that power is being applied for too long and you risk burning out one or the other of the solenoids. If it were me, I'd replace that old blue switch box. |
Gary
Z Scale
"Never let the prototype get in the way of a good layout" |
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Joined: 08/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 10
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Originally Posted by: ozzman The sound of a Z scale turnout being thrown is more like a brief buzz, and I do mean brief - less than a second. As SteamNut has pointed out, they should NOT get hot. That indicates that power is being applied for too long and you risk burning out one or the other of the solenoids. If it were me, I'd replace that old blue switch box. Thank you. Will do that. Does it make sense to use banana plugs instead of just shoving in the blue wires?
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Joined: 11/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 488
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Definitely yes and make sure the wires are correctly connect to the box as explained before. Have some patience and soon everything will run fine when you have the correct items to connect everything together. Perhaps that is why you have constant power to your turnouts and your blue control box is fine.
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