 Joined: 05/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Victoria, Melbourne
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Greetings all from a newbie from Australia.
I'm VERY new to Marklin and have inherited an old analogue system.
Probably a basic question to the initiated but what I'd like to know is if you can run a Digital locomotive on an analogue track?
I've the opportunity to pick up a digital loco (with carriages) at a good price - but no point in doing so if it won't work.
All advice appreciated.
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 1 user liked this useful post by Arrow
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 Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC) Posts: 1,288
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Yes, you can run a digital locomotive on an analogue, but... (1) When reversing direction, some older transformers provide too much power that could destroy the decoder inside the loco. Which transformer do you have? (2) Decoder settings could be defined as ”Disable Analogue”. You will maybe need a digital system to change settings. (3) There are probably decoders out there, that don’t even allow analogue mode. At a good price, I would buy the digital loco anyway, and find this as a reason to go digital...  |
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 Joined: 02/02/2017(UTC) Posts: 694 Location: England, South Coast
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If, amongst the stuff you have inherited, there are blue plastic controllers that look like transformers marked either 6600 or 6699 do not use them with anything digital.
It is unlikely but you never know...
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Joined: 05/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Victoria, Melbourne
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Originally Posted by: Michael4  If, amongst the stuff you have inherited, there are blue plastic controllers that look like transformers marked either 6600 or 6699 do not use them with anything digital.
It is unlikely but you never know... Thanks. By controllers, do you mean transformers? The transformers I have are all metal, no plastic ones.
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Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 14,875 Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
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Originally Posted by: Arrow Originally Posted by: Michael4 If, amongst the stuff you have inherited, there are blue plastic controllers that look like transformers marked either 6600 or 6699 do not use them with anything digital.
It is unlikely but you never know... Thanks. By controllers, do you mean transformers? The transformers I have are all metal, no plastic ones. The best thing show us a photo of the transformer(s) and than we can get you an accurate answer., from what you've described the transformers you've got are not suitable for digital decoders and as 1 member already explained when using the reversing option your decoder will be destroyed. John |
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Joined: 05/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Victoria, Melbourne
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Originally Posted by: river6109 Originally Posted by: Arrow Originally Posted by: Michael4 If, amongst the stuff you have inherited, there are blue plastic controllers that look like transformers marked either 6600 or 6699 do not use them with anything digital.
It is unlikely but you never know... Thanks. By controllers, do you mean transformers? The transformers I have are all metal, no plastic ones. The best thing show us a photo of the transformer(s) and than we can get you an accurate answer., from what you've described the transformers you've got are not suitable for digital decoders and as 1 member already explained when using the reversing option your decoder will be destroyed. John Forget about the advertisement as it is the best photo I could access, but this is what I've got as transformers. https://www.gumtree.com....s-controllers/1261271294
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 Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,771 Location: New Zealand
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Eeek, that's the 280A transformer (the middle one with 280 on the faceplate), which due to their age are an electrocution accident waiting to happen if they have not been checked by an electrician. See https://www.marklin-user...me-a-huge-230-Volt-shockThe 30va 6166 transformers either end of the picture are better in terms of their insulation, but best to have them checked. Probably not best either to use with digital locos. I wouldn't bother with the small 278A, best to bin it but if not then the same warnings for the 280A apply. The plastic case transformers talked about are at the top of the picture. The problem with these transformers for digital use is they can give too high a voltage when their reverse function is activated. The situation is made worse when a transformer rated for 220v is used on a 230/240v supply and likewise a 110v rated transformer used on 120v supply. Best to get a white case modern 6647 / 66470 / 66471 transformer, which can be used with digital locos.
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Joined: 05/12/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Victoria, Melbourne
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OK, thank you very much for the advice. Greatly appreciated.
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