3 Rails DCC/Digital layout

Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Error

3 Rails DCC/Digital layout - AC/DC wheels - 3 Rails DCC/Digital layout - AC/DC wheels

Options

View

Previous Topic Next Topic

Rhode		#1 Posted : 18 December 2025 09:30:53(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 11/12/2025(UTC) Posts: 1 Location: Hovedstaden, Copenhagen		Hi (Warning newbie questions) I'm getting back into the hobby at age 50, and only had minor prio experience as a kid 40 years ago on a oval analogue M-track layout. Now I have started again with a digital starter-set, with the MobileStation2 and C-track. This is my first introduction to digital runnings. Question 1: I am seeing alot of mentioning about DC and AC wheels, but become unsure if that is relevant for me. The Marklin-set #29000 is connected to AC wall power, but (as i understand it) has a DC motor in the loko. And the leeds is supplying one side of the power to the center rail, and both of the "track-rails" are the opposite side power. If that is correct, then from a power p.o.v., assuming the cars do not have any electronics inside, does it matter if the wheels on the wagons are AC or DC wheels ? I'm reading about minor diff on the flange/guage - but if the wagon sits/runs on the rails - is there any issue with either ? Question 2: In my setup the MS2 controller is connected to the track connector box, which alto provides power and the MFX/DCC signalling to the actual tracks. Is it possible to use some of the many older Marklin contol boxes at the same time ? or connecting up other DCC controller to the track without damaging anything ? E.g. I have seen alot of digital keypads from what i think is the first generation Marking digital (White boxed, black lid and then alot of red/gren buttons). Questions 3: If I connect another MS2 to that same track connector box, would i be able to run control different trains from the 2 MS2's at the same time ? How do i determine, e.g. which MS2 a given DCC loko is connected to ? I would assume if i press search on both MS2's they both "find" the same Loko. Sorry for this maybe being newbie simple questions - but all this digital running is new to me. /Rhode


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks


	Wish to join the discussion?! Login to your marklin-users.net community \| Forum account or Register a new forum account. Or Connect via Facebook

dave55uk		#2 Posted : 18 December 2025 11:08:42(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 15/09/2023(UTC) Posts: 127 Location: Ely, England		Originally Posted by: Rhode Hi (Warning newbie questions) I'm getting back into the hobby at age 50, and only had minor prio experience as a kid 40 years ago on a oval analogue M-track layout. Now I have started again with a digital starter-set, with the MobileStation2 and C-track. This is my first introduction to digital runnings. Question 1: I am seeing alot of mentioning about DC and AC wheels, but become unsure if that is relevant for me. The Marklin-set #29000 is connected to AC wall power, but (as i understand it) has a DC motor in the loko. And the leeds is supplying one side of the power to the center rail, and both of the "track-rails" are the opposite side power. If that is correct, then from a power p.o.v., assuming the cars do not have any electronics inside, does it matter if the wheels on the wagons are AC or DC wheels ? I'm reading about minor diff on the flange/guage - but if the wagon sits/runs on the rails - is there any issue with either ? Question 2: In my setup the MS2 controller is connected to the track connector box, which alto provides power and the MFX/DCC signalling to the actual tracks. Is it possible to use some of the many older Marklin contol boxes at the same time ? or connecting up other DCC controller to the track without damaging anything ? E.g. I have seen alot of digital keypads from what i think is the first generation Marking digital (White boxed, black lid and then alot of red/gren buttons). Questions 3: If I connect another MS2 to that same track connector box, would i be able to run control different trains from the 2 MS2's at the same time ? How do i determine, e.g. which MS2 a given DCC loko is connected to ? I would assume if i press search on both MS2's they both "find" the same Loko. Sorry for this maybe being newbie simple questions - but all this digital running is new to me. /Rhode Hi Rhode. I'm no expert but can answer questions 1 and 3. 1. The vast majority of stock (coaches, wagons) will run perfectly ok although as I have found, one or two will tend to derail on points, and oddly, only on certain points - not all of them. As you mentioned, this is due to the flanges on AC wheelsets being larger so DC wheels/flanges may have trouble. Just try and see and change the wheelsets if necessary. 3. Yes, you can connect a second MS2 to the trackbox, as I have done. One of them will be the 'Master' and operate normally. The other one will be the 'slave' and when you select a loco, there will be a short pause, then it will load the details for that loco from the 'Master'. Then you're good to go. And yes, both controllers can have the same loco selected and you can control that loco from either controller. The 'Master' will be the one with the LOWEST serial number - the bottom number on the silver sticker on the back of the MS2. Sorry I cannot help with Q2 but I changed from British OO to (the more modern) Marklin Digital without using any older Marklin stuff. Dave.

1 user liked this useful post by dave55uk		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

H0		#3 Posted : 18 December 2025 13:37:11(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,542 Location: DE-NW		Hi! Welcome to the forum. Re Q1: The gauge (i. e. wheel spacing) is different and DC wheelsets from Piko and Liliput will derail on Märklin C track turnouts, while DC wheelsets from Trix, Roco, or Fleischmann will work fine in my experience. Feedback sensors and level crossings are a different topic. Re Q2: There can be only one digital controller "master brain" connected to the track at any time. An MS2 can be an extra throttle for a CS2 or CS3. Re Q3: As Dave wrote, the Master MS2 keeps a list of locos (up to 40) and the slave MS2 can select locos from that list.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS

1 user liked this useful post by H0		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Users browsing this topic
Guest

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.