Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Hello All,
I've just discovered, in an old "Marklin Magazin", the RTS conductive coupling. In fact I only saw the photo, for I can't read German. It seems to have a large advantage on the Viessmann: compatibility with Telex coupling! My question is: does the RTS (ref 5910) work well in term of contact, coupling and uncoupling, reliability?
Thanks for your comments!
Fred
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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oh yes... contact : good uncoupling:good coupling : good , but needs to be done a litlle ....."strongly"
It is a reliable item for marklinists . It can be coupled with Marklin normal couplers...
( vous parlez français ? j'ai une bonne expérience de ces attelages . par prudence le fabricant ne garantit pas l'accouplement systématique.... Dans les faits : c'est vrai que pour accoupler deux wagons ensemble , il faut le faire à vitesse légèrement plus élevée qu'avec les attelages courts marklin . On dira de manière " moins réaliste " eût égard à la nécessité d'augmenter la vitesse . Mais ça dépanne et évite d'y mettre la main . Peut être qu'avec une goutte d'huile conductrice , cela devrait mieux se passer...je n'ai pas essayé . )
Aucune réserve pour accouplement avec attelage marklin non conducteur , ça marche .
Pour le dételage à distance : parfait .
Globalement : largement plus pratiques que les timons Marklin .
Si vous maniez l'Anglais mieux que moi , peut être pourriez vous résumer ce que je viens d'écrire , à nos amis anglophones....? merci
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Hi, Our friend jeehring asks me to sum up in English its french post. Although my english is probably not better, I'll try: jeering has a good experience of those RTS couplings. RTS does not guarantee a perfect coupling, and , in fact, it's necessary to increase the speed for coupling, which is less realistic. May be some conductive oil may improve? No problem of compatibility with standard Marklin coupling. Remote uncoupling is perfect.
jeehring: thanks a lot for your feedback. Did you also try with Telex coupling?
Any other experience?
Best regards
Fred
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Where does one get RTS couplers?
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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I've been searching a lot and unforunately, I haven't found any dealer selling these couplers. Anyone who did find a supplier?
Fred, I have to complement you on your English, since I speak, read and write quite a bit of French I'm sure you've translated Jeehrings comment right. Well done! By the way, in which old Märklin Magazine did you find an article on this? |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 26/05/2003(UTC) Posts: 148 Location: Athens, Greece
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Hello Sander and Ron.
Please try Item ID "RTS5910" on Lokshop. Lokshop seems to have them on stock. It is a set of 20 Conductive Couplers for 10 waggons, for about 47 EURO.
Costas
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Ok. Who is the manufacturer? |
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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Oh yes I did , no problem with Telex couplers . Thank you for your translation !
I use to buy RTS couplers in a Marklin shop in BORDEAUX ( France )... Sorry , I don't want to make " advertising " , as I know they are difficult to find , I give you the name and the Phone : the name of the shop is " Crocodile & Cie " Tel (0)556 52 56 04 and Fax is (0)556 52 71 48 ( I also find some "LED lighting bars " from RTS , very cheap and perfect for all era 2 / era 3 Marklin coaches like " Good Luck " or " Schurzenwagen rheingold 43237"....) ( It is a good adress in france , In my opinion one of the most interesting marklin shop in France , well -stoked with marklin items and good prices - same level as german prices )
BTW : RTS couplers are expensive whatever the place you find them , they are more expensive than normal Marklin couplers . " LED bars " are at a very reasonable price......( this shop is sending everywhere )
That's all I can say.....the only place I know to find RTS couplers... I have asked to many other shops , with negative answers , too.....
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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The manufacturer is RTS , but ,.... I don't know if it is a commercial name or a registered legal name........
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Jeehring: Thanks. The reason I asked is that if I search for "RTS5910" at the LokShop they come up, but the list of manufactureres does not include RTS. |
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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As this couplers are expensive , it's interesting to reserve them to nice trains like Marklin US coaches , or Rheingold coaches What I like is that RTS couplers also avoid to damage coaches .
Not like marklin " conductive bars " ( conductive timons ") when you handle coaches trying to coupled them with marklin " conductive timons " ( "conductive bars" )
IMHO , the problem in using marklin " conductive bars" is also because you have to handle coaches roughly for coupling or disacoupling them . ....risking to damage them...
You just have to plug the RTS coupler into the NEM socket....and that's all...( remember , it can be coupled with other non-conductive marklin couplers so you don't have to install or desinstall them...)
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Found them... It's interesting since prices are lower than the Viessmann ones. Does anyone have a picture of these couplers? Preferable in delivery state, which means, not installed. |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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I started putting Viessmann ones on my coaches and loks, but it bothered me that they weren't compatible with relex. This seems a good solution. I will suspend my conversions until i can get some of these. |
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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For testing , I know that in "Crocodile & Cie" Shop , we can buy them only one by one or 5 or , 6 or 10 , whatever quantity you need etc.....but a little bit more expensive : 3 E each ( If I'm not wrong ). For me it's close to my home , but I know this shop sends everywhere whithout extra charge , only usual sending costs ...)
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Hi, Sander, the Marklin magazin displaying RTS coupling is # 1/2003. You can have a picture at: http://www.burkhards-modelleisenbahn.de/rts2.htmlRon, the manufacturer reference: RTS-Elektronik, Postfach 64, 75233 Tiefenbronn, Tel. 07234-6915 jeehring: thanks for your comment on telex coupler. On the other hand, I wonder why you asked me to translate for you don't have any problem with English!!!  Fred
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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Oh I have problems with my english !!.... ....never can say what I want !I don't choose my words , I'm only doing an approach.... writing in english , for me , takes much more time... so much !
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Joined: 02/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,448 Location: Italy
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I bought mine on ebay here, but now there aren't. http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eB...TRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1They work fine on my lighted coaches   An other good coupler is this original 2 poles by marklin mounted on the coaches of the train cod. 26511    bye  |
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Joined: 20/04/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,248 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Göteborg, Sverige,
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Hi all,
Thanks for your contributions! This helps me a lot. Especially Alberto: thanks for the pictures. I think I prefer the RTS couplers compared to the Märklin 2-pole ones since I want to fit them in Rheingold coaches which is quite a lot simpler with the RTS couplers. |
Sander
--- Era I(b): K.Bay.Sts.B. and K.W.St.E. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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I'm going to order a set, also. If I like them, I will probably put my Viessmann ones up on eBay.
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Fred: Do you know the part number of the socket the RTS coupler is inserted into in the referenced picture? I would like to convert some older coaches to NEM compatibility, but need the conversion part. |
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Joined: 02/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,448 Location: Italy
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Alberto:
Link doesn't seem to work. |
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Hi Ron,
Sorry, I don't know more on the subject! I hope the link given by Alberto will help!
Fred
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Joined: 02/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,448 Location: Italy
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Hi Ron, try only the first link, next chose "tips and tricks", then "rts br38". Sorry for my confused indication (hurry)  bye |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Alberto: Don't know what is wrong...nothing happens on the Tips and tricks' link. But thanks anyway. |
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Joined: 02/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,448 Location: Italy
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Hi Ron, perhaps it happens because the pages are java scripts? Have you enable it? Go on www.java.com and download the plug-in for your browser bye |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Yes, Java is active. Two of the links work (stammtisch and ascher transporte. Whe I mouse over the other links, the text says "http://www.burkhards-modelleisenbahn.de/bahnlink.html#" they are all the same
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Joined: 25/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,106 Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Hi all, I just spoke to RTS Elektronic about the current conducting Couplers for Marklin. If anyone in the U.S. or Canada needs more Info please E-Mail me at martin.hoffmann@3web.netMartin |
marklin-eh |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Finally got around to mounting some of the RTS couplers last night. A little hard coupling on the close coupled cars, but nice. My only reservation is that only have of them have the hoop. That means that you have to pay attention to the orientation of the cars so you always ahve a hoop/non-hoop together. Not a big thing, since I rarely break trains apart. The big advantage over the Viessmann ones is that they are compatible with the standard Marklin couplers. I like the way they interface with the current springs which come with the Marklin CC couplers. No additional wiring.
Does anyone know if those Marklin Y-shaped contact springs that come in the light kits have a separate part number? I would like to order some. |
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by rschaffr Does anyone know if those Marklin Y-shaped contact springs that come in the light kits have a separate part number? I would like to order some.
Not found any part number for that contact! I'm seeking myself the part number of the ground spring that comes with the lighting kit: in fact, using RTS with single conductor, each car needs its own ground spring!!!
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Efel:
The ground contacts are as follows: 291180 Blattfeder (bogie ground contact) 25mm 210240 Blattfeder (bogie ground contact) 35mm 201081 Blattfeder (bogie ground contact) 45mm
As far as the "Y" contacts go, I decided to buy the Marklin CC sets (7319) which includes them and the drawbars, which I will discard. |
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Found a problem with the RTS couplers. I was pulling some RTS equipped cars around with my 3065 BR260 switcher (telex couplers) and on an R2 curve, the RTS contact touched the telex body and shorted. I don't have any other telex loks so this is not a great problem for me, but if you are using telex for normal operations it could be. I am going to try to put some liquid insulation on the telex body to see if that fixes the problem. |
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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The strong point of RTS vs Viessmann was, in my opinion, its ability to be used with Telex couplers! Your experience shows it's not the case! What a pity!
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Joined: 25/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,106 Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Hello Fred,
The new TELEX couplers from Marklin are no longer hooked up to the chassis of the Locomotive, so using the RTS couplers with those Locos won,t be a Problem as for the old Telex couplers with chassis mount are you planing on switching a lot of Passenger cars with your Engines ??
Martin
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marklin-eh |
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Joined: 23/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 801
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Thanks for the info, Martin. I may possibly buy a new V60, with insulated Telex, but I like my old 3665 that I'm going to convert to high performance digital. I'll try, as Ron, to insulate its telex. Fred
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Martin: A further concern about this issue. Are the new telex coil bodies totally isolated or insulated or are they connected to the positive function feed from the decoder? If so, connecting that to track voltage could fry the decoder. |
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Joined: 25/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,106 Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Hello Ron,
The new Telex uncouplers are totally isolated from the boddy of the Loco, as a matter of fact the coil is actually mounted on a standard new close couplers (slightly changed ) which you know is of course all plastic. This means that there is absolute no conection of the coil to the coupler or the latch of the coupler to ground (chassis). on the old telex coupler all the parts of the coupler were metal and also mounted to the chassis (thats why you got a short with your RTS coupler). One more thing the Telex Coupler on the Class 86 # 33961 and out of Start-Set 29530/31 is still all metal,also I am not sure about the Diesel-Engines # 37652/54 since I do not have any to check out. The Engines which do have the new TELEX are # 37954/37841/37953/37921 and 37889. If one is not sure just use a Pick-up shoe on one of you passenger cars and use a regular marklin coupler on the end which couple to the Switching Engine.
Martin |
marklin-eh |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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RSCHAFFR ,
Something is buzzing me...
curiously , I got all my RTS couplers with a hoop , and it works........a little bit hard coupling.....that's all !
I wonder if the dealer sold me wrong pieces by giving me only couplers with hoop....
May I ask you something please :
What are other differences between normal RTS coupler and RTS couplers without hoop..... Is the contact area the same on both ? On photo , it looks like the contact area is lower on one of them.....
Did you catch them under one reference , or two references ?
Thank you
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Jeehring: For one set I got two bags, one with hoops and one without. They are identical otherwise. The ones without have the studs to put the hoops on. I have moved some Marklin hoops and they work fine. |
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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Thank you Rschaffr.... All my couplers are with a hoop . No difference between them.....
Did you try to couple only with YOUR couplers with hoop , without using those without hoop ? ( I just want to know if there are two generations of RTS couplers - I would like to know if your couplers are similar to mine )
I have always bought couplers with hoop...The dealer told me he always receive couplers with hoop.....
bye
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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no problem with ref 37954 telex and RTS couplers...untill now ! It could be easy to put an adhesiv plastic piece just on the bottom of metal telex couplers ....may be ?
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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jeehring: If you look ar Alberto's pictures earlier in this thread, he shows the two variations of the couplers. It appears that this is normal.
Now that I've equipped a full train with these couplers I have several observations: 1) They have solid, reliable electical conductivity. No matter how sharp the curve, they carry the current (unlike the Viessmann ones which on tight curves sometimes open up). 2) The force required to couple and uncouple them is rather large. I have to really press the cars together to get them to hook. In uncoupling with the little platic tool, I have to put my hand on top of the coaches to keep from lifting them off the track. I haven't tried an uncoupling track yet, but I think it will not work. They certainly don't couple just from backing the train up. (The Viessmann ones do).
Before I proceed any further, I am going to rethink this whole thing. I may go back to the Viessmann ones that will couple and uncouple without manual intervention, even though it would require refitting my whole collection to make everything compatible. I'll let you know after I play with these a bit more. |
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Joined: 25/09/2003(UTC) Posts: 2,786 Location: ,
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Oh , I have tried with uncounpling track , it works quite normally thanks to the vibrations - that you cannot generate with the plastic stuff - ,sometimes you only have to activate the disacoupling rail one or two seconds seconds more....
Thanks
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Thanks for the info, jeehring. I'll give it a try when I get around to it. As I said above, I don't usually break trains apart as part of my normal operations, so it is not a BIG problem. I really like being able to couple them with standard Marklin couplers, so I probably will stay with them. Once coupled, they stay coupled reliably and the electrical connection is excellent. I also like the fact that they interface with the newer coaches electrical pickup for the Marklin CC couplers. A lot of positives here compared to one negative. |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Update: I have been manipulating the couplers to see if they become easier to couple and uncouple. After several cycles, they do "loosen up" a little and will couple and uncouple more normally. With this result, I now have no reluctance to move to this system completely for my lighted coaches. The only drawback is that there is only one circuit, thus allowing you to only control one set of lights and you must ground each coach individually, but if that is acceptable, this is a nice system. |
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Joined: 25/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,106 Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Hi all,
I have contacted RTS for the current conducting Couplers in the past 2 month three Times. Each time I was told that the Info plus a sample would be send to me by Airmail. As of today I have not received anything from RTS. I have now giving up on selling these Couplers, when it comes to Business I have a three Strike rule. You get three chances on a deal after that you'r out. I am sorry that I can not be of more help for the Folks who were intersted in these Couplers.
Martin
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marklin-eh |
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,193 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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That's too bad, Martin. I was waiting for you to get them to order some. Maybe I can pick some up in Munich the week after next. |
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Joined: 04/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 120 Location: Boca Raton, FL
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by rschaffr <br />That's too bad, Martin. I was waiting for you to get them to order some. Maybe I can pick some up in Munich the week after next.
If anyone is still interested I was able to order them from the Lokshop for 47 Euros. 10 sets , 20 pieces. |
Robert J P |
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