Creating and Troubleshooting Märklin C-track Contact Track (Automation Episode 2)
This video illustrates the principles of contact track. How does the contact track work? How to create and troubleshoot the contact track. An important part of using the contact track is to use the S88 - this will be illustrated in the next video in the series. As such this video cannot stand-alone and you need to look at the next one as well.
This is the second video in the Automation series. Creating a contact track is simple - just a quick cut of the bridge underneath the C-track (in both ends). However, when using the contact track for automation there are many things you need to think of and things that can go wrong. This video will discuss these and will show you how to troubleshoot.
I am doing a very slow pace in the video hoping to be able to explain the complex and advanced topic of train automation in a simple way. My aim is to make it easier to understand and get started. However, it is a complex topic where many things can go wrong, so be patient and expect lots of troubleshooting.
Tips & How to included:
• How to create contact track
• How to make long contact track
• Straights and curves of any length can be turned into contact track
• How does train detection work with contact track?
• Tab closest to the edge is red ("B"), the other is brown ("0")
• How to make contact areas?
• How to wire contact track/areas?
• Contacts: Yellow is occupied, grey is free and red is unknown
• Solder directly to track on a permanent layout
• Use and solder to spade connector on a temporary layout
• How to troubleshoot using CS3
• How to troubleshoot using a digital multimeter
• Common mistakes and how to fix
• Detecting the entire train consist from first wheel to last wheel
• What to consider when using contact areas
• Do not use short contact areas
• Be careful with cars with DC/non-Märklin wheel's
ALWAYS do the installation with POWER OFF and read the manual.
Enjoy and have fun with model trains :-)
Interesting links (English):
Märklin: https://www.maerklin.de/en
Insulators Märklin 74030: https://www.maerklin.de/en/products/d...
Spade connectors Märklin 74995: https://www.maerklin.de/en/products/d...
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:53 How does contact track train detection work?
06:25 Creating the contact track
10:46 Making long contact track
11:12 Seperating, wiring and powering contact track/areas
20:57 Contacts in the CS3
20:20 Testing the contact track
25:35 Solder directly to track or spade connector
26:40 Loop of contact tracks
30:17 Troubleshooting using CS3 and AC car
31:46 Troubleshooting using digital multimeter
34:22 What could be wrong?
38:50 Detect entire train consist
41:06 What to consider
46:27 Summary