Hi all, I've got ANOTHER question to ask: I want to get this very nice set of Russian sleeper coaches, but they're wheel sets are DC and marklin sells AC wheel sets for coaches and wagons.

So my question is can you run DC wheels on AC track or should I get the AC wheel sets?

Although a problem that may arise is that those coaches aren't marklin; they're made by Russian company Eurotrain. Here's the link: http://http://www.super-pilot.r...oti/vagoni.html/nid/7828. Sadly it is only in Russian.

Getting back to point, will the marklin wheel sets fit into the bogies because as I've written they are two different manufacturers?

Cheers, Vel

P.S. Sorry for all of the questions I'm throwing at you!

Hello

the differences between AC and DC wheels are:

--the distance between flanges, sometimes this is the cause of some derailments, mainly over turnouts, usually is possible to adjust this distance.

--The size of flanges, usually in DC wheels is less that AC, so it is not important.

--The wheels in DC are isolated and in AC not, this is only important if you have ocupancy detetectors in your layout, even in this case is possible to get a solution.

hope this helps, best regards
Antonio Martínez

AC wheels conduct electricity through the wheel across the entire wheel axle to the other wheel. This is because the rails are either negative or positive depending on how the locomotive is traveling with the center rail being the negative/positive. DC wheels are insulated in the center of the axle; since DC style trains have rails that are negative or positive with no center rail whatsoever or will not conduct electricity. AC rails have alternating current and DC rails have direct current.

If you try to use AC wheels on a DC track it will short out the track. That is why most Marklin dealers tell you that Marklin cars won't work on anything but Marklin train systems. All you have to do is change the wheels. Other differences "might" be the space between the wheels (unlikely) or the length of the flanges (generally not).

In short if you want to use Marklin train cars that are NOT lighted on non-European trains....just change the wheels.

Bollocks!

On an AC system using 3 rails, both outside rails are at ground or earth potential, which is signified by the brown wire that is used for this connection.

The centre rail is at positive potential - normally around 18v to 21v AC, and is signified by the red wire that is used for this connection.

As has been pointed out, AC wheels are not electrically isolated since both outside rails are at ground potential. Therefore they are ideal for use as a contact sensor. It is possible to run DC wheels on AC 3 rail track, but you can't run AC wheels on a 2 rail DC powered track - an electrical short will happen if you do.




That's a fairly obscure statement - to say that rails are AC or DC means nothing. When you use the terms 'AC' and 'DC' you are referring to the type of current being used, not the type of rails. Yes, two rail track is normally associated with DC and three rail track is normally associated with AC, but not always! Ever heard of 3 rail DC? It is possible.

If you are using K or C Track, you can use DC wheel sets with very little problems. If you are using the older M (metal) track, you may have some issues because of wheel spacing. Some DC models come with finer wheels which have a lower profile and may derail on Maerklin tracks. In order to change the wheel sets, find out the size (usually between 9 and 11mm) and replace with the corresponding non-insulated wheelsets from Maerklin, Roco or other company. The other thing that you will have to check is the design of the end of the axle shaft, as some models, particularly older ones, may have thinner and longer shafts than the current ones with the tapered end.

Regards

Mike C

Language barrier - or funny aspect of colloquial English. "Positive AC." I learned something new here.
In the case of digital operation it's "bipolar positive DC." Or is it "positive bipolar DC?"

Live? Phase?
It seems that "phase" will work in English and German - and it's a more "neutral" term (pun intended) than "positive AC" (the wire has a negative voltage half of the time).

I don't know how you native English speakers call it. Probably there will be half a dozen or more applicable terms.

No RED is Active and Brown is Neutral in AC Parlance.

Not all 2 rail is Dc. DCC uses a Modified AC (Just like Maerklin) power BUT in 2 rail polarity is important.

NN.

Just my 2 amps/volts worth