Hi,

I've got my 30 year old set, obviously all analog.
This is something my dad did for me at the time.

Now, it's time for me to do the same for my son.

I'd like to go from analog to digital and, since I'm new to that part, I'll do it by steps.

First of, testing done, my trains can't handle anything more than a 2.3% slope. I've seen tons of layout videos on youtube and I see slopes that are easy at 5 or 6%.

Is that because of the analog mode? I have 2 Delta locos (not 30 years old...), will they handle any better in digital mode?

I'm going to test that using my existing 6611 trafo and a 6021 Control Unit. May not be idel but, like I said: testing phase.



Overall, I plan to have the layout managed with a raspery pi and the CS3 software from Marklin.

There is a very good and detailed page on how to get the hardware up and running here:
http://www.ifoedit.com/RaspiCS2En.html

Since I know one or two things in cumputers and electronics, I will have no problem with that.

Now the biggy, the actual layout.

I am extremely confused with the decoders (k83, k84,s88)

Here are the things I will want to achieve:
1) If a train goes from the red section to the green section, I want the incoming train on the blue section to stop until the train currently on the green section is far enought.
I guess that implicates 2 signals (red track and blue track) as well as 3 sensor (at the signal for track red and blue to set both signals to red and one on the green track to set both signals back to green)



Is the above list of signals and sensors correct?
If so, what decorers are to be used? How are they to be connected with the signals and the sensors? How do I program that in the CS software (are those functions that would otherwise be setup in the keyboards?)

2a) A train arrives, passes a sensor (loco is to trigger that one) that triggers the barriers of a level crossing to come down), then the train passes the crossing. Further down the track, an other sensor is placed but this time, the END of the train is to triggger the barriers back up. Same questions: what sensors, how to connect them etc.?

2b) What if I have 2 // tracks over that crossing?

2c) if a tain goes from est to west and another goes from west to east, then the sensor that used to trigger an action on the loco now need to trigger the action on the last wagon. How to set the direction?

I have been looking for hours and do find bits and pieces.
As an example, I thought I found something good here:
https://www.marklin-users.net/forum/posts/t14239-Shuttle-Train-Version-1-2009
I have to admit that I started to get a bit lost in the end but the blow came from post 36: with a software, no need for k83 nor k84.

There is also this page (hence why I'll use the 6011 trafo while testing):
http://germantrains.com/faq.html#What do I need to digitally operate my trains (train control)?
Great for the extreme basics but missing the explanations for the sensor/signals/decoder stuff.

Any help would be much appreciated, especially with clear and simple drawings, step by steps for the CS software etc.

...


Obviously not all of your equipment is analogue. The 6021 Control Unit was the first digital unit from Maerklin.

A complete overview (unfortunately still without the new CS 3) you find here

https://www.maerklin.de/...emarchitektur_gesamt.pdf

But in this graphics you will find your CU 6021 integrated.

Here you find the connection for your 6611. Maerklin itself recommends to seperate the light current from the traction current. The connection for the light current is analogue, whereas the connection with the traction current is digital current. But this seperation is not necessary and depends by the size of your layout and the needed power.

https://www.google.de/im...JDM:&vet=1&w=220

https://wiki.3rail.nl/im...e_lichttransformator.png


If you still have some time for waiting, I can highly recommend this new book from Maerklin to you:

http://www.maerklin.de/e...s/details/article/03092/

I did not bought the German Edition yet, but I got its predecessor.

http://www.maerklin.de/d...e/details/article/03081/

This book is based on the CS 2, whereas the new one is based on the CS 3, which I bought last Christmas for my own use. E.g. this books answers your question



very good. I know it, because I had the same questions. This book gave me all the answers. With the new book for the CS 3 you got the advantage of its availability in English.
The decoders k83, k84 are not longer availbale. The new once are here

http://www.maerklin.de/e...s/details/article/60832/
But at the prior model you will find a manual
https://medienpdb.maerkl.../1/pdf/60831_betrieb.pdf

This one is a decoder eg for a digital possibility to toggle turnouts.

http://www.maerklin.de/d...e/details/article/60842/
and here themanual for the m 84
https://static.maerklin....656a9706a61434541831.pdf

This one is used for a digital possibility to switch on and off lights, signals, etc..

The s 88 is a feedback module.

Enough answers for the moment?

Thanks guys.

Lots of links.

I'll try to answer some questions and maybe rephrase a bit too.

I use my 7 year old kid as an excuse to rebuild a complete layout (4m x 3m thus far but will ultimately depend on the slopes).
I used to have the official 2m x 1m layout with the street in the middle and a lake. Unfortunately, I had to let it go and kept all the rails.

I have about 20 locos and 50 wagons. I love the build quality (made in Germany) and they can be upgraded to digital, why not.

I intend to have signals and routes and run multiple trains at once. My fathers layout was missing all that.

Right now, I have M rails and the analog trafos.
I just ordered the 6021 off ebay, waiting for it.

Before I go full scale, I want to make sure that I get everything right.

Step 1) getting the slope value since that will define the final size of the layout
Step 2) get the raspery pi, build the interface and test it out. Option 1 was to use rocrail but then saw that you can use the CS3 SOFTWARE too. I don't have a CS3 and do not intend to get it either. I'd like to have everything managed from the computer. From the replies, it looks like I need to go with rocrail rather than the cs3 software?
Step3) get a few switches and signals and build a small scale layout. that's where all the hard wireing and programming comes in (which is the part I'm completely lost and confused).

And again that's the part where I'm looking for drawings and specific instructions.

I was also thinking Viessmann as opposed to Marklin for the decoders.

I'll do some readings with the links you provided and will come back (I'm afraid).

If I might take the liberty of adding to Cookee's comment, the 6021 and the control 80f 's are still going strong !!

Regards,

PJ

If I may answer.

What you are looking at is in effect an earlier (and some say still better) version of a Mobile Station: 6021 linked to a number of 6040 keyboards so like the MS2 you have a lok controller through the 6021 keying in the Lok address and keyboards switching turnouts, signals and uncouplers through the track connected decoders Each item has its own very tactile pair of switches and an indicator when the switch is turned to red all very easy to see and use. The 6021 and 6040 ( and other compatible items) all join together electrically and seamlessly through their own built in multi plug. The only two wires leaving the controller are the red and brown to the track not even a track box in between.

Edited by moderator 18 February 2017 13:58:00(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

UPDATE

I just got my 6021 control unit.

Since I have 2 digital compatible locos, I tried them out.

First is a 33622 Santa Fe.
She did manage to go up a slope at 7% with some load when I could not reach more than 2.5% in analog. WOW!
HOWEVER, I have 2 questions:
1) There is a jumper on the delta module. Does anyone know what it's for? I have the manual but it says nothing about it.
2) The light still behaves as in analog mode: the faster she goes, the brighter the light. I thought the light would be fully on at all times in digital !? Could that be due to the jumper?

Second, a 3153 DB BR120.
So that one has the light on at all time. I also did manage get her up a 3.5% slope but beyond that, she just goes down the slope on her own!? Could that be due to the rubbers on the wheels? This being said, I think she's not sliding, she's actually rolling down... Engine to soft?

Can functions be added to either of them? Sound or something? Just curious...

Edited by user 19 February 2017 00:45:24(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thanks Lasse.

I had a look at the link you provided.
The light 'fix' is looking easy enough.

I ordered the required diode but will skip the function upgrade.

Meaning that even if the loco is equipped with a decoder, it does not mean that we can enjoy all the benefits of running digital...

Is there a time frame when locos were factory installed with those magnets? Or maybe a logo on the catalog?

It's a bit more complicated than that, as some of the earlier digital models with permanent magnet still had no load control.

Generally though, you can go by the numbering. Four digit loco numbers were fairly clear.

30xx and 31xx are analogue
33xx and some 34xx are analogue with electronic reversing circuit
34xx and some 33xx are Delta
35xx are analogue with load control
36xx are digital with no load control
37xx are digital with load control
38xx were DC

Five digit numbers can be a bit more vague, but generally:

30xxx are replicas of classic models
31xxx are sets with more than one locomotive
33xxx are Delta
34xxx are Delta
36xxx are Digital hobby locos with cheap decoders but have load control (Not all are Hobby)
37xxx are Digital locos with load control (Not all early ones)
39xxx are Digital locos with C-sine motors and load control (Not recent ones)

I hope this helps, though I fear I may have confused you more!

Yes, it is more complicated.

Loco 37641 was in the catalogue until 2003/2004 and it does not have load regulation. Not sure if it is the last, but it is one of the late ones.
The text "adjustable high-efficiency propulsion" indicates lack of load regulation.

Just like "maintenance-free LEDs" stands for yellow LEDs. Read between the lines and ask the folks on the forum ...

Is that because for the green, red, blue and even white LEDs they need to periodically have their colorant tanks topped off?