Hello all,
I'm relatively new to marklin ho. I have recently restored my father's old marklin ho layout to full operation. I had so much fun I built another one of my own. So I now have two in my home. I learned a great deal.
I did a quick read also nothing too detailed regarding running digital on am analog layout, when I saw its possible I made a purchase. Rookie mistake I know. I cautioned myself and have not tried to run it yet. Based on a few things I've read here.
My layouts have the old 70s transformers.
Any tips? And any advice before I run this new locomotive?
Thank you

its nice to have antiquity but when it comes to transformers you have to be careful and I personally think its not worth the risk and buy a new one and you can be assured nothing can go wrong with it. , all you have to weigh up the cost of injury, death or fried decoder and you soon will realize a new transformer far outweighs the sentimental value

John

HI Scot. I have had marklin for years, and in about 1999, I bought a few new locos that were digital. I didn't have a digital controller, just the old blue transformers from the 50's. I ran my digital locos every now and again on my M track. My set up has three circuits that are insulated from each other so I could use three trannies to control the separate circuits. I found this forum maybe 4 years ago and read the comments about only using the latest white trannies. I had a whoops moment when I read that, so one day, I saw a Delta set offered for sale, and bought it. I was lucky as a previous owner had converted the BR41 to full digital. I then ran my digital locos with the delta controller. [ I did have trouble though and when setting the switches, I was looking at the decoder upside down so set them back to front ].
Later on , say 3 years ago, I bought an MS2. I ran both inner circuits on the MS2 and the out circuit with my analogue tranny. One day, I had a pair of BR23's trundling around the outer circuit and then at one point, my MS2 hic cupped. I looked around and saw the two Br23's had run off the analogue circuit and trundled through the digital circuit and back onto the analogue circuit. That must have given the MS2 a fright , [ and me ] so I remembered someone on the forum talking about rockers between circuits. I experimented and found if I glued the equivalent of match sticks on the joins between circuits, the pick up shoes had to ride up over them and hence never touch both circuits at the same time.
Two years ago, I bought another MS2 so I could control more locos independently. I ran them independently for some time then, with help from Adrian [XXUP] I ran them together through the same tack box. That was the best thing I had done so far and is really great for controlling more locos.

Originally, after looking at the earlier digital controllers with all those buttons on them, it put me off [ I am slightly dyslexic maybe ]. The MS2 is easy to operate and a good start in digital. I still run the points/switches through the analogue system though as I think the MS2 system is a bit complicated for my brain. The analogue system is a lot cheaper as well although there are lots more wires under my layout [ bloody birds nest if you ask me ].

something for you to think about.
Dereck

If you can get an MS1 for a good price (€20 or less) then it definitely is worth a try. If you find that digital is not for you, you only lose a small amount.
If you later decide to go for a better controller (MS2 for €60+ or even a more expensive system) you only lose a small amount again.
And the MS1 can still be used as a throttle with CS1, CS2, CS3, or ECoS so it can still be used if you upgrade to a really big controller later.

So far I had one MS1 and one MS2 fail. Both failed during the warranty period and were replaced by Märklin.

The decoders that are at high risk with blue transformers were sold from 2005 until about 2012 or so.
The 1999 DIP-switch decoders were constructed with blue transformers in mind and are not generally at risk.

This is a great idea, never thought of it.


Mark 1602


I still have my FM and E bodies + the Nikkor lenses. Fugi still produce 35mm for colour prints. I used the Kodak for colour and Ilford for B&W.