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Offline Martti Mäntylä  
#1 Posted : 07 January 2020 23:19:27(UTC)
Martti Mäntylä

Finland   
Joined: 15/11/2018(UTC)
Posts: 397
Location: Uusimaa, Helsinki
As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have recently gotten involved with Gauge 1 by getting a couple of analog locomotives and other necessary items.

While I plan to run the locomotives in analog mode, I am wondering whether I could operate the track power and the switches digitally with K83 and K84 boxes just like I am doing in H0. This makes most sense if I can also get feedbacks working, however.

I am familiar with contact tracks and switch tracks of H0, but these don't exist in Gauge 1. So, here comes my newbie question: What are the alternative ways to get feedback in Gauge 1? What are their pros and cons in practice?

In particular, in H0 I am using CAN Digital Bahn products to hook up contact tracks with Rocrail running on my laptop. There is a CAN Digital product called StromSniffer that seems more or less suited for Gauge 1, although the documentation is not explicit on this. If someone has experience on this particular approach, I would be more than pleased to hear from it!
- Martti M.
Era III analog & digital (Rocrail, CAN Digital Bahn, Gleisbox/MS2, K83/K84), C & M tracks, some Spur 1
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Martti Mäntylä
Offline Markus Schild  
#2 Posted : 07 January 2020 23:50:38(UTC)
Markus Schild

Germany   
Joined: 14/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,802
Location: Wurttemberg
Hi Martti,

Märklin offers a sniffer which is suitable for 2-rail-systems: https://www.maerklin.de/...e/details/article/60882/
A more simple alternative are reed-switches to detect locomotives equipped with magnets.

Regards

Markus
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Markus Schild
Offline Martti Mäntylä  
#3 Posted : 09 January 2020 00:28:41(UTC)
Martti Mäntylä

Finland   
Joined: 15/11/2018(UTC)
Posts: 397
Location: Uusimaa, Helsinki
Thanks for the reply, Markus!

I am nevertheless reluctant to adopt Märklin approach for this use: if I want to use 60882, I would also need a CS3 and other bits and pieces from Märklin Digital architecture. That would be an overinvestment for my modest goal.

Reed contacts are interesting, and I will probably experiment with them - they are relatively inexpensive. Thanks for the tip!

I will also investigate the CAN Digital approach further.

Edited by user 09 January 2020 14:06:13(UTC)  | Reason: Typo fix.

- Martti M.
Era III analog & digital (Rocrail, CAN Digital Bahn, Gleisbox/MS2, K83/K84), C & M tracks, some Spur 1
Offline Rocca  
#4 Posted : 27 January 2020 18:41:07(UTC)
Rocca

Italy   
Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC)
Posts: 615
Hi, Markus,

May you suggest, please a suitable Reed contact for the Märklin Gauge 1?
Mit freundlichen Grüße
Servus
Stefano



Originally Posted by: Markus Schild Go to Quoted Post
Hi Martti,

Märklin offers a sniffer which is suitable for 2-rail-systems: https://www.maerklin.de/...e/details/article/60882/
A more simple alternative are reed-switches to detect locomotives equipped with magnets.

Regards

Markus


Offline rbw993  
#5 Posted : 27 January 2020 22:30:25(UTC)
rbw993

United States   
Joined: 19/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 954
LGB once made contact switches. They were reed contact inside a plastic fitting that snapped between the rails. They were weather proof with screw terminals. They weren't cheap but they were rugged. I don't know if they still make them.

Roger
Offline TEEWolf  
#6 Posted : 28 January 2020 04:05:25(UTC)
TEEWolf


Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC)
Posts: 2,465
Originally Posted by: rbw993 Go to Quoted Post
LGB once made contact switches. They were reed contact inside a plastic fitting that snapped between the rails. They were weather proof with screw terminals. They weren't cheap but they were rugged. I don't know if they still make them.

Roger


LGB still offers them.

https://www.lgb.com/prod...s/details/article/17100/

https://www.lgb.com/prod...rrpdb_pi1%5BnoPaging%5D=

page 129
https://www.lgb.de/filea...kat2019_Internet__2_.pdf
Offline TEEWolf  
#7 Posted : 28 January 2020 04:25:56(UTC)
TEEWolf


Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC)
Posts: 2,465
Originally Posted by: Rocca Go to Quoted Post
Hi, Markus,

May you suggest, please a suitable Reed contact for the Märklin Gauge 1?
Mit freundlichen Grüße
Servus
Stefano



Originally Posted by: Markus Schild Go to Quoted Post
Hi Martti,

Märklin offers a sniffer which is suitable for 2-rail-systems: https://www.maerklin.de/...e/details/article/60882/
A more simple alternative are reed-switches to detect locomotives equipped with magnets.

Regards

Markus




Technically is Maerklin Gauge 1 the same as Trix from Maerklin, which is a 2 L DC system. Only the power feeding connection is designed for the needed higher power consumption. H0 = 3 A, Gauge 1 = 5 A. E.g. for all brands and gauges of Maerklin you can use a CS 3 or CS 3+. Only the power supply has to be different. One provides 3 A the other one 5 A.

Starting a CS 3 or CS 3 plus from Maerklin digital, a screen appears showing all three brand logos from Maerklin, LGB and Trix.
Offline Markus Schild  
#8 Posted : 28 January 2020 09:28:06(UTC)
Markus Schild

Germany   
Joined: 14/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,802
Location: Wurttemberg
Originally Posted by: Rocca Go to Quoted Post
Hi, Markus,

May you suggest, please a suitable Reed contact for the Märklin Gauge 1?
Mit freundlichen Grüße
Servus
Stefano





Hi Stefano,

Just have a look at the data-sheet. Nearly every contact on the market is fine. It just depends on how much current should be switched. Usually only some mA are switched on model-railroad electronics. But there are also types which can switch up to 5A and more. I use very cheap examples from China (pack of 10 for ~2EUR).

Regards

Markus
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