Yes you can use your blue transformer to operate your turnouts, just be sure the circuits stay separated.

All yellow wires from turn out motors connect to the yellow output of the blue transformer then connect the blue wires to the switch button boxes, and the brown wire from the transform to the side of the switch box. They should be on there own circuit now unless

To be safe leave the MS1 and the MS transformer unplugged from the track and test the switches, If you want to be very safe use a multimeter and make sure you have no voltage to the track outer and center rails when switching the turnouts. As long as there is no voltage from loose wires or miss wired turn out motors then your ok.

I'm guessing that you have plastic c-track
Note: if you have metal M-track or K-track with lanterns on the turnouts, the light on the lantern ground is wired back to the track and would create a half circuit form the blue transformer to the MS1 and could damage it.

Hi all,
It is part of the beauty of digital.

Dr D

Hi Joe,all,

>I have a starter set (29539) with MS2, and 36VA transformer, with 2 feeder wires connected to the C track. The set has 2 turnouts with mechs and decoders already installed.<
OK,....


>I also bought 2 "C to M" track pieces, to join up with my existing M track layout - with about 18 turnouts+lanterns, and 9 uncoupler tracks, using the 6647 grey trafo, and 7072 control boxes.<
What does the 6647 do?Feed the tracks and turnouts/uncouplers/lanterns?


>I want to have 1 digital layout, with a mix of C and M track, for a while anyway......
Am I right in assuming I must first disconnect all the the existing feeder track wires (red) from trafo 6647, but I can keep the brown wires connected?<
If that is what is feeding the tracks,yes.Common ground is what makes 3-rail layouts easier for wiring.


>And the yellow wires stay in the 6647 trafo?<
What are they wired for or to?I would use this(for now) to power your turnouts/uncouplers/lanterns.

>What worries me is that I will now have 2 transformers connected to my digital layout...Is this "allowed"??<
Yes and no,you need to power the MS2 and the tracks,depending on the power draw(#loks,etc.)you may need to get a booster and a separate transfo for the rest of your layout.

Dr D

This is "allowed". And more than just "allowed": it's the only easy way to operate analogue M track turnouts when driving with a Mobile Station.

Common ground is fine, but keep external power away from the centre rail.

http://medienpdb.maerkli...inweis_fremdspannung.pdf
To me I would be safe and not have any connection between that accessories and the track.

Ok, thanks for all the comments. There seems to be some divergent opinions though... To clarify my question , I have an all-metal M layout. If I understand correctly the issue is to keep the centre rail away from the "blue trafo" power. However doesn't one run the risk of a short when ex a train derails in a turnout, bumping into the light fixture? Would such a short kill my MS?

If I were to pursue a completely separated circuit would removing the lightbulbs in my turnouts do the job?

Kaspar

This advice is not to have 2 or more controllers at the same time connected to the tracks. That was always a to be avoided situation also in the analog times to prevent volts transforming down and up again or have differnt phases conflicting, and it is fatal to digital equipment. But that is not what is discussed here, this is about steering of separate electromagnetic equipment.
Regards, Henk.

hi Kaspar,all,

>Ok, thanks for all the comments. There seems to be some divergent opinions though... To clarify my question , I have an all-metal M layout. If I understand correctly the issue is to keep the centre rail away from the "blue trafo" power. However doesn't one run the risk of a short when ex a train derails in a turnout, bumping into the light fixture? Would such a short kill my MS?

If I were to pursue a completely separated circuit would removing the lightbulbs in my turnouts do the job?<

Separate ALL lights to it's own transformer(s).Turnouts,signals, whatever.An old 280 will do.

Dr D

Hi all,

I currently have a M-track railway and bought a Mobile Station 2. I tried to connect the turnout to a second transfo (the old one) to use them with 7272 switchboxes. The turnouts work just fine, the trains run, but the lights in the turnouts don't light... Does anyone know why and how to correct this??

thanks guys
Julian

hi Tom

Thanks for the idea. I didn't, the wiring sheme I was shown at my hobby shop didn't showed that connection so I just assumed it would be bad for the transformer... Won't this interfere with the current sent to the track by the new one? Should I use 2 feeding rails or kan I use just one?

cheers
julian

thanks TOM

it works great :)

cheers
julian