Hello fellow modelers, I am trying to figure out a way to use M signals on my digital C track layout.Due to the facy that I need a large amount of signals in my yard I was wishing to be able to hook up M signals to be able to save a good amount of money. As you all know m signals are a fraction of the cost of the new MFX signals. I just want them to light up, not control traffic. Kind of like platform lights or street lamps. The M signal I purchased to experiment with has 5 wires, I just need something like a red and brown wire to get it to light up. Can any of you more experienced modelers give me an idea of how this could be done?
Thanks in advance
Luna

Hi Luna
This is exactly what I did on my C-Track layout.

Electrical aspect
- signals can be driven directly using a M83 (60832)
- their contacts can be used to power ON / OFF the stop section in front of the signal
- the bulbs could be replaced with LED M4 Fassung. That way, they never burn anymore and urrent need is sharply reduced

Prototypical aspect
- they are quite good except the huge motor casing
- one solution is to cut a rectangular hole in the plywood base and make an adaptation so that the top of the casing comes flush with the upper plywood surface

Here is what it looks like on my layout

Cheers
Jean

Hi Luna
These are one-wing semaphores.

To light up the signal just connect the yellow wire with yellow plug to the yellow plug of the Märklin transformer and the ground wire (brown, that YOU ?must provide) between to female plug on the signal and the brown female plug on the transformer.

Often, with M track, the metal base of the signal would provide the signal with the ground by the M Track metal bed.

To change the signal to the position you like, use one of the blue cablle and connect it shortly with the ground

Cheers
Jean

Hi Luna
Not sure I understand your concern.
You need TWO wires to light up the signal
- one is by connecting the YELLOW wire from the signal to the 16 VAC Transformer
- You need to ground the signal by connecting it to the other 16 VAC (return) plug. Märklinists usually use brown wire. Is this so exhorbitant?

Cheers
Jean

Yes the signal has also 2 red wires (traction current switch), 2 blue wires to drive the solenoids
One yellow wire to power all the signal
There is NO brown wire as in those days with Marklin M track the ground return was provided by the signal s base plate
Since you use C track you have to plug a brown plug into the signals front socket and wire it to the trafos brown socket
Cheers
Jean

Edited by user 28 April 2025 23:29:53(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Don't you lose the digital control/memory of the engines?
Thanks

In my case, I run also analog locomotives, so I need the stop sections for my old-school signals. Nevertheless, with Rocrail controlling the deceleration of digital locos, they generally stop at the contact tracks placed in front of the stop sections, so they never experience the loss of track power.

Edited by user 01 May 2025 09:54:18(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified