Hi all, I am planning a new layout, after a long 40-year drought, like so many people are.

With this post, I would like to verify if my ideas will work and assumptions are sound. The model road digital ecosystem is new to me. Despite having done quite a lot of research on the subject there are still questions in my mind, some are fueled by conflicting information I find. I have not seen a thorough technical description of the Maerklin digital system and its components. This is what I am used to as an engineer. Therefore, I am like many, dependent on the info available and the high-level descriptions of the components.

The layout I intend to build is divided over two decks, 500 mm apart, with on top a scenic layout and below a shadow station, connected by a dual-rail helix.
The overall dimensions are (L-Shape) - 5000 mm x 1300 mm and 2300 mm wide on the leg of the L.

I have already purchased most of the C-rail, which has a total length of 104 m, with an expansion option for another 20 m.

- All of the turnouts will be operated via m83 decoders.
- All detection will be done with contact rails and S88 decoders.
- The main controller will be CS3, with a future addition of computer software for sophisticated automation
- I think I will have no more than 10 locomotives running simultaneously when the layout is fully automated.
- All signals will be the modern type with in-built decoders and take power from the track. No signals are needed in the lower deck.
- I intend to introduce m84 decoders (or an alternative (cheaper) brand with similar functionality) and a separate power source for lighting and accessories, which will be done at a later phase.

I want to start with a single CS3 and see whether I need to expand the power supply with booster(s) along the way. I have posted 3 images below, that show what the first 3 stages could look like.

- I want to keep all control elements (CS3, decoders and related power supplies) in a central location and use cabling to reach the track and other equipment.
- I do not think it is an issue to do and have longer cabling, provided that I ensure I use the correct cabling (diameter).
- I will wire up the rail power feeders in such a way that I can add boosters without having to rewire. To do this I will create 4 separate areas, each connected with sufficient feeder wires to a bus. The 4 busses are connected to 2 main busses. This way I can simply change the bus supply connections and divide the power feeds between multiple sources, CS3, and Boosters.
- The contact rails connected to the s88 decoders are wired once and do not need to change when additional boosters are added.
- The m84 receives track power from one of the power busses. I assume it does not matter which one, as the control signals from the CS3 should be able to reach the m84 via either CS3 or Booster.
- I read somewhere that the cabling from m83 to turnout solenoids should be kept short, I assume that this is not true, as those connections only need to carry either power on or off to the solenoid, there is no digital signal carried over those connections. So that's why I should be able to connect them at larger distances (let's say up to 5 meters).

Questions:
1. does the design and the plan make sense and are there any pitfalls anyone can see?
2. (side question) I am in Australia. I note that the 60041 power supplies come in an Australian version. Is the only difference the household power plug provided? I do not see an Australian version for the smaller 36VA power supply 66360, so will I have to use one of those travel adapters to plug it into an Australian wall socket?

Yes PeFu, that will save a lot of complicated wiring and lengths. I was sceptical to only use track power for even two M83s because two turnouts are 12 or more feet away from the M 83 but it works fine.

Thanks, that is good to know. I think there are two parts to the power demand by the M83s:
1. The power used by the m83 themselves (the decoder and the output switching - are these relais or electronic switches)? I have to admit I have not tried to find out how much this is - if it is even published anywhere.
2. The power needed to move a turnout mechanism. As there is always only one at the time being actuated, the number of m83s does not matter.