Digital locomotive in analog track

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Digital locomotive in analog track - It´s necessary to use rocker isolators (gleiswipper)??

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Horacio		#1 Posted : 04 August 2017 17:17:04(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/08/2017(UTC) Posts: 1 Location: Cordoba		Hi: I have 2 analogic circuits connected between them and isolated. The trafos have matched polarity. I bought a digital locomotive, and I want to know if it´s possible travel from one circuit to another without risks. Some people reccomend (weakly) to use a "rocker isolator or gleiswipper), but there is no consensus about thi topic. So my question it´s possible in an analogic circuit to cross from one circuit to anothe with a digital locomotive without risks? Thanks


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jvuye		#2 Posted : 04 August 2017 18:08:18(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/03/2008(UTC) Posts: 2,883 Location: South Western France		Originally Posted by: Horacio Hi: I have 2 analogic circuits connected between them and isolated. The trafos have matched polarity. I bought a digital locomotive, and I want to know if it´s possible travel from one circuit to another without risks. Some people reccomend (weakly) to use a "rocker isolator or gleiswipper), but there is no consensus about thi topic. So my question it´s possible in an analogic circuit to cross from one circuit to anothe with a digital locomotive without risks? Thanks Yes , a "rocker" is a good idea, it will avoid small shorts when changing sections, even though the loco may get stuck if you travel too slowly over it. The biggest danger for digital locos used in analog mode is not coming from that type of situation, but when using the reversing pulses from older transformers who can easily blow up the electronics in the loco, since they don't have a clamping device that limits the (over)voltage to safe levels. Hope this helps Cheers
		Jacques Vuye aka Dr.Eisenbahn Once a vandal, learned to be better and had great success!


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clapcott		#3 Posted : 04 August 2017 23:06:39(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC) Posts: 2,448 Location: Wellington, New_Zealand		Originally Posted by: Horacio Some people recommend (weakly) to use a "rocker isolator or gleiswipper), but there is no consensus about this topic. I fail to see why there is any failure to find consensus ! Any time you are transiting from one power type to another then every attempt should be made to ensure there is never a short between the two. Personally I would try and dissuade the mixed system you describe, preferring to have a master switch that turns the whole layout from one mode (Digital or Analogue) to the other. However if you do need to provide this capability then always user a rocker isolator. AND ensure your pickup shoes are not formed/bent in such a way that the two tracks power shorts. Before all the "digital only" (multiple booster) scenarios come up, the same consideration ("Any time you are transiting from one power type to another") applies. Current boosters do produce the same type as each other IF they are controlled from the same controller and are therefore in sync. IF you had, for example, a CS2 and a CS1 connected over an Ethernet connection, then their booster outputs are different and the rocker isolator is needed.
		Peter

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mike c		#4 Posted : 05 August 2017 03:43:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,225 Location: Montreal, QC		Your question pertains to using a locomotive with a digital decoder on a layout with multiple analog circuits. The locomotive should function in the same manner as any other analog locomotive. In that mode, the decoder is simply operating as an electronic reverse unit. What is critical is to avoid using a digital locomotive on an analog layout using the 6600 controller and to insure that the locomotive does not stop in a manner where the slider bridges two separate circuits at the same time. A rocker is a good way to avoid this, as it prevents contact with both sets of studs at the same time. At this point, I am going to raise the issue of older transformers. If you are using older Metal blue transformers or the 1970s/1980s plastic ones and you want to run locomotives with digital decoders, make sure to upgrade your transformers to the latest white plastic versions and make sure that UNDER ABSOLUTELY NO CIRCUMSTANCES to activate the reverse function while the train is moving, even if you quickly turn the speed dial to '0'. Make sure that the locomotive is completely stopped before activating the reverse function. That said, enjoy your digital lok and soon enough, you will likely be converting older loks and going digital... Regards Mike C

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H0		#5 Posted : 05 August 2017 07:37:54(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,441 Location: DE-NW		Hi! Originally Posted by: Horacio Some people reccomend (weakly) to use a "rocker isolator or gleiswipper), but there is no consensus about thi topic. As I understand it the Gleiswippe is needed between an analogue circuit and a digital circuit - and sometimes it is also needed between two digital circuits. I never heard that it is needed between two analogue circuits. And note: the Gleiswippe is needed to protect the digital controllers or to keep the digital signal clean. I see no need for a Gleiswippe between two analogue circuits that are in phase - IMHO it makes no difference whether the locos are purely analogue or digital locos in analogue operation.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS

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