I suspect that as usual the real problem is the release of a product with inadequate instructions for the end user. This is not unusual today and is certainly not limited to Märklin or model trains.

The message that needs to be going back to all manufacturers is that shipping a product without a proper manual that fully explains the use of a product is simply not acceptable, and relying on your customers downloading and finding information online is not acceptable either.

The turntable may have been made to suit the average era3 user in terms of size, but if they need to turn to Internet forums to get it to work, then Märklin has failed.

Why buy Marklin if you don’t like the product or the Company. Why not buy Roco or PIko and then tell them they are rubbish. If I buy something I don’t like then I don’t keep on buying it. As for Marklin I once got a faulty signal and had it replaced and I have no problems with that. All we are buying are toy trains which are now very expensive but do represent the original fairly well.

The Märklin new item brochures always write about superior Märklin quality, Märklin TV always shows the QA at work.
They always talk about quality because they know what their greatest weakness is.

After many frustrating hours and with the help of a friend, who is a Cardiologist and a computer programmer, we were able to get the TT working. The documentation from Marklin was at its uselessness with many significant steps omitted - obviously the person who wrote the manual had no idea what he was talking about, or he assumed we knew how to program the TT.

Apart from the lack of information in manual or ambiguous explanations, the TT is extremely delicate - the track inserts are fragile. There are basically 2 types of inserts - track or concrete. And each insert has a very small, microscopic insert that tells the computer that the insert is either a track or concrete, and guess what - these inserts fall out easily or fowl on the bridge when it rotates. They have to be glued in and positioned so they don't hit the bridge. This is an example of very poor designing. The small microscopic inserts should be moulded into the inserts, this way they won't fall out and they will be aligned correctly. They don't need to be removable as they need to be in position otherwise the decoder cannot function correctly.

I don't know how long the TT will last- fingers crossed, more than 2 years. In general, if you want to spend 600 euro (or better still, throw 600 euro out the window), buy one of these TT's.

Regards

Greg

Hi all
Just to add, the actual TT bridge is not long enough to take the longest Marklin steam locomotives, oops !!
I will stick with my old one.
Tim

Not only are the instructions inadequate, but the gray sensor tabs keep falling out. I have an e-mail into marlin service to see if I can cement them in. Also, the TT will not register the tracks and the cement pieces correctly. It keeps changing the home position. If it were not the for the English translation from Guy at AJCKIDS I would be in real trouble. A very expensive model that tome, does not perform as expected.

That’s a shame that such a new and expensive product is not meeting expectations. Glad I decided to stick with the k track unit.

The old turntable for K track is still available from the manufacturer - only 90 cents more than the new one for C track when you compare the RRP. Ref. no. 665201.

I would write, on paper and with a real stamp on the envelope, a group letter to Marklin saying that this new product is rubbish listing all the issues encountered. How could they even release videos on how 'easy' it is to install ? BS !!!

That said, my grandfather was a mechanical engineer, he drew and developed many lorry engines in his life. Once he was asked to draft a manual for the maintenance of one of them and he knew that one piece wasn't easy to work on. The employer told him to write, in the manual, 'with a few easy operations this can be done'. Reason behind this was 'anybody that reads this description will go to the end of the world' to get it done :-)

Same for this TT

There are some German folks who have it on YouTube. They must know something we don't because theirs work just fine!

I wouldn’t be surprised if the German instructions have more info. As I understand it translating technical German to English is not easy, so something may get lost in the process

Hi
This is because it is a good product with a fine German user's manual. Translation is not always so good. Germans are also good at reading carefully the manual before using it.

The key issue is installation:
- prepare a very thick base (Märklin advise 16mm) so that it is not warped.
- Also the key is to install all access tracks ALL THE WAY down to the pit's base, install connecting tracks, power them, screw them to the base plate BEFORE connecting those tracks to the rest of the layout.
- Also, don't play with the registering tabs that make the difference between concrete border and access tracks otherwise they won't stay in place.

Connect to the CS3 and let it start the identification of tracks

Don't cut the power when the TT is turning. That's it all is fine
Note: for very far away users there may be some transport issues.
Note: never apply force to remove an access track but UNLOCK it before removing.

Jean

Hi Rafael
For your problem I suggest you look at this video especially from 4:19

You must close the window (Schliessen) from which the initialisation was triggered otherwise the locations are not stored.
Make also sure that the Red and Brown connections to the turntable are not switched because the TT is sending back the information to the CS3 (but not in your case)


I suppose you are offered a CW and a CCW 180° turn to have the possibility to stop in front of a specific track (STOP button)
I don't know for sure. For simplicity and compatibility with other ways to drive the TT (Central Unit 6020, MS2, Stellpult)

Not sure I understand your point. To me it seems that for each direction there a "1 step" button (go to next track) and "180°" button So four arrows in all.
I hope this helps
Cheers
Jean

Hi Joe
I believe there is no automatic detection of Track 1. When you start initializing, the TT is supposed to be on track 1.
If it is not you may either:
- unlock the TT as per the manual and move the TT so that the Cabin side of the bridge is sitting on the recess in the pit OR
- command the TT to move to track1 and then start the initializing

DON'T USE FORCE on the bridge as long as it is not UNLOCKED
Here is the command to unlock (in the Orange rectangle)

Cheers
Jean

Edited by user 29 June 2021 13:43:54(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Rafael
Comparing both videos on your TT the cycle seems to complete (not sure because the video is not great and does not show the TT at the end).
What seems to be the case is that the data communication TT towards the CS3 is not working (in MFX mode). Are you sure you checked the wiring between the CS3 and the TT? (B and 0 not mixed up?)
Otherwise, it means your TT or CS3 (more likely the TT) has a problem.
To be sure connect ONLY the TT and the CS3, leaving all the rest disconnected and repeat the initialization
This is all that I can suggest
Cheers
Jean

Jean,
First of all thankyou for your effort trying to understand my messages ang giving advice. I apologize for the quality of my video . The cycle completes, as in the Märklin's video: the TT returns to the starting position and the CS3 takes some time to do his caveats.
I've checked the wiring multiple times, and I've used several wiring solutions:
1) The CS3 disconnected of the Booster and the LinkS88 and only the control wires of the TT connected directly to the CS3 direct output (green connector)
2) Same as above but TT connected to the CS3 programming track output
3) Same as 1) but reversing the O and B wires
4) Booster and LinkS88 connected to CS3. TT control wires connected to Booster output

All of the above give the same results. The initialization process seems to run perfectly, with the blinking light in the house and the two different beep tones depending on whether there is a track or not. The only problem is that the TT diagram in the CS3 will not show the yellow squares where there is a track.

I've other questions regarding what I observe on the CS3:
1) On the TT configuration screen there are a digital and a manual Track 1 settings. If I try the (digital) Track 1 setting by tapping "track 1 setting", writing down a track number and tapping the "end" button The CS3 shows and “Information” window with the following text: “The track 1 correction is only possible with a Dcc or Mfx turntable!”. Up to what I know, my TT is using Mfx, so I can’t understand what the message means.
2) On the CS3, doing an Edit, Edit Article List, I see that my CS3 has seven “articles” related to the TT, named D1, DS.X 1 to 4 and DS.L 1 & 2. The first article is the TT itself and the remaining six are sounds and lights. If a look article by article I see that they all use the MM protocol and have the following addresses: 225, 236, 237, 238, 238, 239 and 240. The 238 address appears twice. The address numbers are shown in black, except the 236 and the 238 which are shown in red. What is the meaning of the black/red colors? The Help on the CS3 does not explain it.
Best regards,
Rafael

I have an ESU EcoS and not a CS3. I've been on the ESU forum and I've been told that I cannot initialise the TT with an EcoS. Apparently, an EcoS can only access mfx decoders for locomotives and not for mfx accessories, and therefore the EcoS cannot work the TT under DCC protocol. Is this correct ?

Hi Drongo
On an ECOS you don't have the special program for the 74861 to process the result of the turn table initialisation.
You have all the rest to pilot your TT in DCC or in MM. It can even be used in MFX but the initialisation result will not show on your ECOS.
No big deal you can use your TT at most of its possibilities I think
Cheers
Jean

I've had some information from the ESU forum to say that the TT cannot work under DCC using an EcoS, as the EcoS doesn't recognise mfx for accessories. Therefore I believe I've been misled into believing that the TT ran under mfx AND DCC protocol. Is this correct ?

Hi,
I don’t have this TT, but it may behave the same as Märklin lokdecoders. They will listen to what protocols are active on the track and then have the following priority: 1: Mfx, 2:DCC, 3:MM. So, if it can ”hear” Mfx it will only listen to Mfx etc etc. If this is the case you can either turn off Mfx (M4) in the ECoS or in the TT (if possible).

Peder

The manual indicates that DCC is off by default and that a Central Station is required to activate DCC. Maybe not the best factory default settings, but that's how it is.

According to the manual it defaults to Motorola/Mfx. So if used as a Motorola accessory set to address 225 it should be possible to use the table above.

Well, until ESU update the special turntable function (if ever) you will have to run it like the table above. Set all functions as accessories. Not so nice but should be workable.

Peder

See if the 04/2021 Marklin Magazine is available on Marklins web site. It has an article on setting up the new turntable for all possible Marklin methods of control, and I am sure one of them will be applicable to the EcOS.