Hi, I wondered if anyone can give me advice on where and what to purchase an accessories transformer (ie. lighting ,crossing etc.) I have a CS2 and a booster but think I need a seperate power supply for all of the accessories. Need 110 volt and at least 16VA. Doesnt look like Marklin has anything like that. Viessmann has but it is 230 volt.


Cheers Mike Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi, Mike, the transformer 6646 was discontinued, but maybe you can get one of those (120 V, 16 V AC, 32 VA).

The new power packs have DC outputs and some accessories may not work with DC (Märklin provide a converter that can be used to get AC from a DC power pack for those accessories).

Tom,

Does this mean Marklin no longer sell any means for analog control of locomotives?

-Brandon

Hi Mike,

You can use one of these transformers with this adaptor cable 60200 to power your accessories. You get a yellow and brown wire which is what you need for most accessories.

https://www.maerklinshop...;anid=M060200&pgNr=1

As Tom mentioned, some accessories might not work with the DC that this power pack produces, but you can connect those via the 60130 invertor which gives both DC and AC outputs:

https://www.maerklinshop...;anid=M060130&pgNr=1

Currently they offer nothing for 120 V mains voltages. There is a new 66470 for 230 V mains voltage (as Ray mentioned).
I don't know if there will be a new 66460 for 120 V in the future.

I still don't know what the difference between the 6647 and 66470 is - maybe they added TRIACs to prevent back-transformation.
Should be no technical problem to do the same changes for the 6646=>66460. Maybe they shy away from FCC approvals (like they do with their locos recently).

I naïvely think that the more e-mails they receive asking for a 66460, the more likely it is that they will actually introduce a 66460 someday.

In the worst case, buy step-up transformers 120 V => 230 V and use the 66470 ...
... and be a good boy and get an FCC approval for it!

Hi Mike,

With our CS2/MS2 layout we use an analog 6627, 30VA to supply ac power to the lighting on a separate circuit. Since none of the power is going to the track to power the trains, we do not have to worry about it being an older blue model. I like using the track output (B) for the incandescent lights and the light output (L) for the LED's. This allows for the speed control to be used as a rheostat to dim the lights. There are several different models made for N. America that would suit your needs without having to buy a separate dc to ac converter for your crossing or other accessory requiring ac. There seems to no shortage of nice used ones being sold on US ebay these days. There is even a German seller offering 6646 models if you wanted new. If DC is all you need maybe one of the wall warts (small switched mode power supplies) with the adapter cable would be fine as well, the euro models can be had for next to nothing and work with 110, or for a bit more money there is a model for N. America too, which of course you could also use with the converter to get ac.

Cheers,

Gordon

Yes, but input is 230 V at 50 Hz, not 120 V at 60 Hz.

Tom, Peter,

Thank you for the answer. I hope this does not derail the thread too much. I will certainly write Marklin about it. With 66470 existing, I think the FCC thing is a pretty valid guess for why there is no 66460 (hopefully yet). I do agree with Peter, the quality of these is not that good, the wire that goes to the control knob frays and then they are useless for driving trains (still fine for accessories). I have one in this condition that I will attempt to repair shortly. At least compared to my 6627s, which work fine to this day.

The majority of MMR users these days are digital, I just hope they don't phase out analog control completely...I would still like to have transformers available, and digital decoders that support driving in analog mode.

-Brandon

Well said Ray and spot on. I knew there was a good reasons to never let any of my analog trafos go. This business of Märklin not making a new North American model stinks. For now there seems to plenty left, but they won't last forever, as Tom suggested, it might not hurt to write.

Gordon

Hi Mark,

We have converted to digital and and C Track, and use an analog transformer for our lighting. I kept the grounds separate since the C track lanterns have the two leads, most all Märklin systems are able to use a common ground, so using m track should not be a problem. The only problem I see is with dimming m track signals and turnouts is they need a certain amount of power to switch the solenoid which uses the same power circuit as the lamps. So you could not dim them to much unless you separate the lamp power from the solenoid which would require an additional wire to the device. When using multiple transformers on the same circuit you have to make sure they are in phase and that the B and L circuits on each transformer are kept separate from the other transformers and each other, the 0 grounds can be combined in a common circuit for the track and accessories. By using the B terminal to power a lighting circuit, you are able to use the throttle as a rheostat to dim or brighten the lights.

I hope that all made sense, and that production of analog transformers will continue. As much I like the new digital era with switched mode power supplies and fancy controllers, there will always be times for m track carpet bahns and running classic Märklin loks with analog transformers.

Gordon

RE: "We have converted to digital and C Track, and use an analog transformer for our lighting." -- Originally Posted by 3rail4life


Hello Gordon,

This November, I’ll begin setting up a new digital C-Track / CS2-controlled layout. My approach to provide separate power for rail & accessories will be similar to yours: (1) a #60055 60 VA transformer for rail power; (2) either a newer digital #6001 42 VA or an old analog #6153 30 VA blue-box transformer for accessories using their L outputs; and (3) a common ground for both rail and accessory power thru the track. That approach works well on a small test loop, but . . . . .

I have a question about phasing & polarity. My main #60055 transformer has a large blade & a small blade on its wall plug, while both blades on the accessory transformers are the same (small) size. I had previously run an analog layout with separate circuits & multiple transformers where phasing & polarity mattered (per Tom’s post above); i.e, proper blade orientation of transformer plugs into their respective wall sockets was important to assure that all power outputs were in-phase and with the same polarity.

On my test track, phasing & polarity (orientation of the accessory transformer’s wall plug) does not appear to be an issue. From your experience, is it something I should be concerned about? Do you have any other related advice; e.g., on using a common ground, etc.?

I may be overly cautious, but I’d hate to fry something expensive because of a simple phasing or grounding mistake.

Thanks & best regards -- Richard

Attached for reference are the Marklin instructions for doing this procedure with analog transformers.

-Brandon

Yes you are correct.

Gordon,

Yes, questions answered. My CS2 came with a 60055 at a very nice combined price. With a second transformer for accessories, power should be fine. I may do something more later, but that will wait until this DumbGuy has a bit more digital experience.

FWIW -- For nostalgic value, I’ve attached a shot of my totally in-phase M-Tracked Christmas Carpetbahn “Control Center” from several years ago. A fifth blue-box (not shown) was used for lights & accessory power. I’ve kept two of them – the others, along with most of my M-Track, found new homes through eBay. Ahhh . . . . . the charming fun of heavy metal, wires, buttons and knobs!

Thanks & regards -- Richard

Edited by user 02 October 2013 22:54:00(UTC)  | Reason: A couple of typos

Gordon -- The yellow panel is marked “Marklin 7072” and is functionally the same as the standard blue ones. Not repainted & OEM, so it was perhaps made to highlight & use with especially important switches. I also have never seen another like it.

I have a bunch of 7072s, 7010s & 7011s, etc. Nearly all in excellent, non-sticky condition and they still fetch a decent price on eBay. As done with the old transformers, I’ll probably sell most of them early next year once I’m sure that control via the CS2, k83’s & Viessmann 5231’s satisfies me. But the old yellow panel won’t go away.

A related OT – I’d forgotten I had kept a photo of my old analog trafos & controls until I looked at archived files a few days ago. I like the memories and may even change my Forum Avatar to show it. But I also like my current Cat-Monster . . . . . . decisions, decisions.

Regards -- Richard

So . . . Yellow = Primex. Nice to know & thanks for looking, Gordon. It’s still a keeper. As you have, I’ve also kept enough analog stuff to build a loop with a couple of switches & sidings if the legacy spirit ever moves me.

This thread is getting far too far OT. It’s interesting, but to be fair to others looking for on-topic advice on transformers, I’ll stop posting more here.

Nice to meet you & best regards -- Richard