Can I use a Blue transformer to c track? Thanks y’all

You always have great answers but isn't there something unclear in the first sentence? Or is it just me?

Is it a blue plastic controller, or blue metal?

Don't use a blue transformer with your digital loco. Sending the reverse pulse when the loco is close by the transformer will likely fry the decoder.

... well, because the OP said:



... so spending all that money on a CS3 would allow just one loco to be run - it won't work with the analog locos, until they are all upgraded to digital (or does the CS3 have some kind of analog mode that I don't know about?)

Edited by user 08 July 2024 10:59:44(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I certainly do not claim any personal experience - I only run digital and analogue locos on separate layouts using modern transformers - and no point re-prosecuting this here as the OP's question has been answered, but for those who like a good fairy tale (ie stories with important life lessons), see here:

https://www.marklin-user...ut-Old-Blue-Transformers

and here

https://www.marklin-user...Are-they-reliable-enough

and importantly, on safety, the forum user who received a large shock from his transformer , with photos:

https://www.marklin-user...me-a-huge-230-Volt-shock

Marco is a long-time member of the forum and a moderator, I certainly choose to believe his well-documented and frightening tale of electric shock by transformer.

And yes, there is nuance here, about which metal version, how old etc, - but please exercise extreme care and read the thread above.

Hi Tom,

I wrote "could", I should have written "might perhaps". Some people say they have.
But, that's real, they have an anti-reverse dispositive. We had only the warning that never but never you shall connect the 0 AND the B or L of two transformers, and that you shall connect all transformers to a common poser point so that you can disrupt all in one.

Hi Herman,

the first link says nothing about life danger - just a link to another thread... this one: https://www.marklin-user...-Transformer-Danger.aspx
If you look at the photos, there is no danger at all that cables could touch the case, even if the isolation has gone.

About Marco's transformer, I am very surprised. This is a very, very singular case since the transformers are classified class II so even if the primary cable lost isolations the construction itself prevents from connection to the body. I suppose that this transformer had been opened earlier, because the papercard inlays were missing on his photos.
Yes, you have to be observant and vigilant. But, it's not to generalize on all blue metal body transformers when a single specimen has been wrongly repaired.
So, be vigilant when the original cable is in place (in Europe, often the plug has been cut and replaced because the old 2 poles plugs did not fit in 3 poles wall connectors), and also when a new cable is in place, except if you get a certificate from an electrician that the transformer is correctly repaired.

But never, never do connect the body to the 3rd pole, a transformer with default like Marco's could put 240V on all other transformer bodies !