Hello,

if I remember correctly, the MS1 needs DC, so you cannot use an AC transformer.

rgds

Stephan

According to the manual you may also use a normal transformer with 16 Volts output.

So i do i plug the yellow and brown wire into my mobile station conector box from my 66470 anolouge transformer! cheers Dan

Hi Dan,

The original MS1 transformer is a regular 16 V AC transformer. Regrettably made in China, at least the safety input and output boards inside. The input board is a simple triac current limiting/soft start device, the output board has a glass encapsulated bimetal safety (overheating) cut-out switch. It is usually the triac or the zener diode on the input board that dies after a while. Repair is easy, just drill out the 4 plastic plugs on the sides of the housing using a fitting drill (keep the drill perpendicular to the housing and you can´t damage anything inside). Pull the top half off the housing. You will see the 2 boards. To be sure, measure the resistance of both the primary and secondary transformer winding on the transformer itself. Measure the resistance across the pins of the output connector. Should be the same as on the sec. winding. If not, remove the output board and either replace the bimetal switch or do away with the board alltogether and connect the sec. directly to the output pins.

If the sec. side is OK, take out the input board and replace or repair it or connect the mains wires directly to the primary winding, doing away with the input board. If you can´t repair the boards yourself go to any electronic or radio/TV repair shop and ask them to do it for you, it won´t take more then 5 min and about 50 cts in replacement parts.

Regards, Robert

My starter set came with a MS1 and a 16VAC transformer. It came with a power plug for the ugly box with stripped and tinned wires at the other end to connect to the push in connectors on the transformer. The ugly box does have a diode bridge rectifier in it to convert the AC to DC that the MS1 needs.

Cheers
Darren

Arconell wrote:


Robert, you are dead-wrong:

The trafo has a Triac on the PCB; whereas the "uglybox" that Darren refers to has 4 diodes forming a bridge rectifier.

Since we are talking about a MS1 here, there is NO booster in the "Uglybox"/rail connection box.

And just to clarify: The MS1 works with both AC and DC.




Per.

Hi Guys,

?? Well, I never realised Märklin had more than just 2 MS1 versions, the ones I know all have the 60 VA AC transformer 60052 (I think 60055 for 120V) in starter set guise and seperately available, difference being 1,2 vs 2Amp max rail output. I hadn´t looked at the article number for the transformer, assuming it would be the same that I have and which came with the 29811 starter set.
So what I described is for the 60052, which in my case had that same problem 2 years ago. After removing the inpüt PCB it is still in use. Obviously I am not familiar with the other sets or the 66181... and I still don´t know what an ugly box is, other than UPS delivery vans but I suppose that´s a bit beside the point :-)

Regards, Robert

Thankyou to everyone for your help. I have now got myself a replacement 66181 for £5 so i can get on and play trains! cheers Dan