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Offline mascagni  
#1 Posted : 15 October 2007 16:27:19(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
Hi: I was wondering if you could post web resources about making your own contact tracks (for track occupancy and track incursion) for both M-track and C-track? I will be happy to post a webpage with links once the inflow has calmed down.

Please note: I will be happy to do the same for K-track, I just do not have any.

Thanks.--MM
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
Offline hxmiesa  
#2 Posted : 15 October 2007 17:23:28(UTC)
hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,519
Location: Spain
This is how I have done it with M-track (See Märklin Magazine #4 from 1979);

UserPostedImage

Works okay for hidden/invisible areas.


With C-traks you need to cut a small bridge on the underside of the track(which electrically unites the two rails), and then you need 2 of those red isolators to isolate one of the rails. If you can get hold of a catalogue, it is very well decribed there with photos and part numbers.
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
Offline mascagni  
#3 Posted : 15 October 2007 17:36:00(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
Henrik: Thanks for the picture. Can you post a verbal explanation of the different things in the picture? What are they made of, how long are they, how do you attach them, how do you hook it up to the layout, and perhaps what is the utility? Sorry to ask so many questions, but it's a hazard of being a professor.--MM
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
Offline dntower85  
#4 Posted : 15 October 2007 18:27:51(UTC)
dntower85

United States   
Joined: 08/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,218
Location: Shady Shores, TX - USA
I was in a pinch this weekend and needed some of the red isolators, but my dealer was out. So I made some isolators from some electrical wire shrink wrap tubes, I just cut off about a centimeter of tubing, one end I cut off square and the other I cut at a 45 deg angle so it would slip in to the other section of track. Then slipped it over the connector. I then placed my soldering iron on the bottom of the connector for a while just long enough to get the tubing to shirk. Then while the tubing was still hot I took needle nose pliers and squeezed the tip into a point.
DT
Now powered by ECoS II unit#2, RocRail
era - some time in the future when the space time continuum is disrupted and ICE 3 Trains run on the same rails as the Adler and BR18's.
Offline hxmiesa  
#5 Posted : 15 October 2007 19:17:07(UTC)
hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,519
Location: Spain
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by mascagni
<br />Henrik: Thanks for the picture. Can you post a verbal explanation of the different things in the picture? What are they made of, how long are they, how do you attach them, how do you hook it up to the layout, and perhaps what is the utility? Sorry to ask so many questions, but it's a hazard of being a professor.--MM

It is normal aluminium foil from the grocery store.
Then some double-sided tape (like for holding carpets in place).
I cut it in 8mm wide strips, as long as I need.
(for goood old analog ocupation detection, you´ll need at least 36cm. For digital S88 feedbacks used in computer-control much shorter distances can be used, like 10cm)

One end of the strip is rolled into a wire. (the aluminium wont break because of the tape) and screwed into a plug.
I use a small strip of normal tape to isolate the foil where it breaks away from the track, and a drop of white glue or hot glue to keep the plug in place.

Regarding use and hook-up, well it depends on what you want with it. You just asked for a way to do it, and that is what I answered... wink
The utilisation is just like any other contact-track from Märklin;
1) You connect it to a S88 entry.
2) You connect it to a bulp, and the other side of the bulp to the trafo yellow (or red if digital).
3) you connect it to a blue wire from a solenoid device, like signal or switch-motor.
-You shouldnt really take my connection-instructions too much serious if you are running new (CS, MS, mfx) digital. But they ARE valid for analog and old (6021) digital operation...
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
Offline mascagni  
#6 Posted : 15 October 2007 19:21:01(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
Thanks, it's not what I originally thought with only the picture. While they say "a picture is worth a thousand words," not all the words are guaranteed to be correct!!--MM
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
Offline Minibahn  
#7 Posted : 20 October 2007 22:07:01(UTC)
Minibahn


Joined: 08/05/2004(UTC)
Posts: 137
Location: ,
Hello,

put away the middle contacts of the m-track. Saw the m-track through the length in two parts. Mount the middle contact again. On both end of your contact rail you have to chance the joiners to isolated joiners from Fleischmann or Roco. I hope it is understandable.

This is the solution to change every kind of m-track to a contact track.
Regards Charles
Offline Basil  
#8 Posted : 21 October 2007 21:03:09(UTC)
Basil


Joined: 25/06/2006(UTC)
Posts: 141
Location: ATHENS
Michael go to Sean`s site to see c-track conversion
http://www.polar.sunynas...is/c_contact_tracks.html

Basil
Offline mascagni  
#9 Posted : 23 October 2007 17:23:11(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
Basil: Thanks, Sean Fanelli's description is quite clear, and the pictures make it more so. Sean is essentially remaking a factory Märklin contact track by breaking a rail and immobilizing that rail (with hot glue). You need two of the tracks to isolate a section of track. Kimmo has an interesting solution that uses a single track with essentially the same idea: http://koti.welho.com/km...n37/Contact%20Track.jpg. There is only a picture there, but after looking at Sean's page, you quickly get the idea.--MM
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
Offline DaleSchultz  
#10 Posted : 23 October 2007 17:43:46(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
Since I am a K-track guy I did not look at this thread until today...
K-track contact section creation can be seen at http://layout.mixmox.com/1/laying-track
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
Offline mascagni  
#11 Posted : 23 October 2007 18:41:55(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
Another link for homemade M-track contacts is: http://www3.sympatico.ca/heinle/Contact_Track.html
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
Offline mascagni  
#12 Posted : 24 October 2007 21:47:54(UTC)
mascagni


Joined: 25/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 826
Location: Tallahassee, FL USA
BTW, Another source is http://www.geocities.com.../gbmc/detect/detect.htm, these are for transient contact rails, not track occupancy.--MM
Michael Mascagni, Tallahassee
If I weren't a Mathematician, I'd be a Violinist.--Albert Einstein
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