Hi,

this is completely speculative, I don't have experience myself.

I guess you need two decoders which you will then configure to be double unit/double traction. However I guess only one of them need to be mSD3 and the other could be mLD3.

-Eino

Hello John,

I did the same as PJMarklin, i.e. convert the loco with an ESU Loksound V4 (and later change it by a V5).
Mine is 37591, bought in 1997, with 5-pole motors.

One decoder is enough to drive both motors.
Normally, recent mSD3 decoders should do same job.

If you go for an ESU decoder, sound projects (V4 and V5) for Ae8/14 are available at ESU.

3 pics:




Cheers
Fabrice

Won’t there be problems with motor feedback if there’s two motors connected to one decoder?

-Eino

Mine conversion is done with one mSd3 60987 decoder.
I used the Märklin sound project from the 37595.
In this loco Märklin uses one decoder for the two motors, like in many other locomotives.
There is a very slight sleep of the one truck in special areas of the track where a rather sharp uphill starts. (more resistance - feedback - decoder gives more power - the other truck sleeps) But you have to look very closely to notice this.
Once I try to use two decoders. Many great problems. Impossible to synchronize the two motors.
I also have change the lights with the new Märklin LED plate with WW and RED LEDs Ε285937.
This light conversion is giving another look to the loco. Is highly recommended. At the same time cabin lighting can be added
Regards
Costas

I have done this twice with F7 locomotives,Alaska item 3462 and ATSF 3662.They are converted with 60941 motors and 60976 msd3 decoders.Both running perfect carrying a lot of wagons with no problem at all.

I opted to use the "Lussi" board & I am very glad I did. Very easy to fit & I used ESU loksound V3.0 M4 decoders back in the day . I converted two of mine namely 37591 & 37593. My 39590 in machinery green I left as is.

http://luessi.ch/eshop/oc/lussi...cos.html?product_id=2480

The "Lussi boards" made for a nice neat job & the loco's running was vastly improved from the original Marklin decoder.

Hi this is a plan of a 4/4 the apply for the 8/14

SwissLights.docx (475kb) downloaded 38 time(s).

Hello everyone

With the positive comments received to my earlier question about whether a single decoder would work or not, I decided to go ahead and do the upgrade.
I am happy to feedback that it all works absolutely fine !

I used a Marklin MSD3 Sound Decoder 60987 and the motors run in synchronized fashion.
Swiss lighting achieved by using F1 and F2 to switch the left side light in front and back respectively, and F0 to switch the centre and right side light.
Remember to insert resistors and lower the power output from the lighting function outputs.
I also programmed slow dimming of the lighting when changing direction of travel to make it look more realistic.

Connecting all of the wiring :



Programming the sounds from the Marklin database
(although I customised it from another project because there is no Ae8-14 project) :



Running the loco on the track :

Video of Ae8-14 running on the layout


Now, I do have a further question :
Why did Marklin install small capacitors in the original loco engines when the loco already a digital loco ?
I have always thought that the capacitors should be cut out of high efficiency motors, certainly capacitors between ground and motor ?
Should I cut these capacitors out from the engines ?



Regards
John