 Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,768 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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hello all,
just wondering about these. I have recently purchased some nice coach sets and I want to light them.
My setup is digital so I'd be putting a decoder in one coach and using these in between them.
Anyone used them before? I remember reading somewhere that they weren't the best and that Roco ones or something are much better.
Thanks |
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany |
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Joined: 08/11/2003(UTC)
Posts: 197
Location: Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
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I have not tried any yet, but I think this subject was brought up in the forum before and Marklin's version of the CC's was not a favorite. I have been looking at the ones offered by Viessmann, the seem to be a very good design.
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 Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Applor:
I use the Viessmann 5048 two circuit couplers. They look good (small knuckle) and have two sets of contacts (one on top and one on bottom). They couple and uncouple normally, and work well. I tried the Roco 4-conductor ones. they a re large, blocky things that have to be coupled and uncoupled manually.
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 Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,458 Location: Scotland
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I agree with Ron. Have just used the Viesmann couplers which are Fleischman close couplers modified and so far have worked very well. They are two pole where Roco are four pole but Roco do not couple and uncouple without a struggle. I believe all coaches should be lit. Well done.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
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Joined: 19/10/2001(UTC)
Posts: 2,379
Location: Lindome, Sweden
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I prefer Roco as they are four pole; I get one slider and a rather fixed set of cars, but i can control some lamps individually in this way. Rocos couplers are far easier to handle than Märklins, one pole; but not ideal of course.
/Lars
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Four poles was tempting, but I liked the functionality of the Viessmann better. As I said I tried both. In actuality, I don't know what I would do with four poles, anyway. I have set mine up with the upper pole switched, the lower always powered, and each coach indivdually grounded with the grounding leaf springs. I am converting my loks to have a 24v relay in them to turn the lights in the cars on and off with a lok funciton. that way I have only the lok slider on my steam and diesel, and no sliders on my e-loks (I use the catenary). |
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 Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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I've tested the Viessmanns as well and I'm very pleased with the result. The only small problem is that after many times coupling and uncoupling the conductors bend a little and sometimes don't work anymore. Very easy to solve by bending it back. I don't consider it to be a problem since I won't change the train composition often. I only use these couplers to make it possible to store the cars in their original boxes easier.
By the way, I agree with Ron, I don't see the use of a 4 pole coupler too. Lars, what do you use the 3th and 4th pole for? |
Sander
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Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,458 Location: Scotland
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I dont see any use for four poles as any number of leads can be taken from two. Also being unable to uncouple is poor. I take my power from the loco and therefore no need for other pick ups on the coaches etc.
I have yet to hear from anybody who uses the M version with success.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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I've not tried the Marklin ones. I have gotten some with some light kits and just discarded them. They look similar to the special couplers that our 3770 ICE-1 has. Those hold together ok, but it takes a bit of effort to couple them and uncouple them. In that case, however, I keep the ICE together so it doesn't matter. |
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Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,768 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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another thing I'm curious about, is can you get CC close couplers?
I noticed one of my new sets, a aqua IC express (4327) are close couplers and would be good if I could keep them that way. |
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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The Viessmann couplers directly replace the NEM pocket Marklin close couplers and work exactly the same with repect to coach spacing. I have had no problem with them. |
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Joined: 19/10/2001(UTC)
Posts: 2,379
Location: Lindome, Sweden
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Roco 4 pole couple close also.
/lars
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Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,458 Location: Scotland
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Sorry Lars but Roco (which I did like in the past) are not as close as the Viessmann couplers....and of course Viessmann do actually couople and un couple on the track.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
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Joined: 19/10/2001(UTC)
Posts: 2,379
Location: Lindome, Sweden
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by David Dewar
<br />Sorry Lars but Roco (which I did like in the past) are not as close as the Viessmann couplers....and of course Viessmann do actually couople and un couple on the track.
David
You are probably correct. Let me correct my statement: Roco 4 pole couple close enough for me. /lars
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Joined: 25/07/2004(UTC)
Posts: 202
Location: ,
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Lars Westerlind
<br />...Roco 4 pole couple close enough for me. The Roco couples exactly the distance as stated in NEM 362, so nothing wrong with this one.
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Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,458 Location: Scotland
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AS far as I know the Veissmann couplers are in fact Fleischmann close couplers and will work with uncoupling tracks etc. So far I have found them really good. I have dozens of the Roco 4 pole couplers and will probably continue to use them for coaches that do not require to be uncoupled from the loco as I take the power from the loco.
David |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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David: Yes, they are supposed to be identical with the Fleischmann 6515 profi couplers with the circuit contacts and wires added. I haven't tried it yet, but after I get a significant number of loks converted to the Viessmann couplers, I plan to buy some of the fleischmann ones for cargo cars taht don't need the power. |
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Joined: 07/11/2002(UTC)
Posts: 388
Location: ,
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Hi,
Well, one thing we can all agree on is that the Marklin close couplers are not acceptable. I have used the Roco four conductor cc couplers for years and find them excellent. I have converted all of my passenger cars to them. I am sure that others are as satisfactory or better.
Jack
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Jack: The Roco couplers are well made and link and operate very well. My only problem was that they have to be manually coupled and uncouped, as do the Marklin ones. That is the main reason I went with the Viessmann ones. |
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Joined: 26/09/2004(UTC)
Posts: 67
Location: ,
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Joined: 16/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,575
Location: DeSoto (Dallas area), TX
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Lars, what do you use the 3th and 4th pole for? I can answer that. I am setting up to have power and lighting control from the Lok. Bottom connections (1-2) are read/brown for most lights. Directly from frame and decoder red feed (might be catenary). Connections 3-4 are for cab unit control (steurwagon[however it is spelled]). This way, no sliders on the cars to complicate block control.  The cars in the middle just pass 3-4 on to the end car. Now if Marklin would just make an OBB City Shuttle..... |
The McLae
IB digital, DB, OBB, SBB epII-V
Providing a home for little lost 'Gators |
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 Joined: 10/09/2004(UTC) Posts: 959 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Chrome
<br />Has anybody tried the RTS current conducting couplers? I'm not sure, but they look like some that I use. I don't know the name/make of my couplers. I just got them at my local shop. If they are the same (and I think so), then they work relatively well. They are just a bit hard to couple/uncouple, usually needing manual intervention by a helping hand. They are supposed to get better once they have been used for a while. Time will tell.
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Joined: 07/11/2002(UTC)
Posts: 388
Location: ,
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Ron,
Yes that is the drawback. However I use them in sets of cars that I never really uncouple from each other in running. The first and last car has a regular coupler. I also have used the four conductors to a decoder and can turn lights on and off in four individual cars. That really impresses visitors. In any event, I think we can all agree that the Marklin CC couplers are just too difficult to work with. I used to have to put a whole train together upside down and then get it on the track. What a pain.
Jack
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