Last Updated 05 dec 2013.
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| This page will contain bits of info wich I find as I work with the CS2. |
Contents :
Using old digital equipment with CS2
The first thing you have to do is power the CS2 up.
If you buy the 60215 in a starterset, a trafo is supplied, but if you buy it seperately, you only get a cable, which is not wery well described.
The provided cable are to be used with your old Marklin trafos, which runs AC voltage.
The new 60215 CS2 is able to handle 5 Amp, and Märklin has therefore made a special electronic trafo like the types you use for your
laptop computers. They actually made 2, a 60W(60061) and a 100W (60101), but only the last will make full use of the CS2's power
capabilitys. The 2 electronic trafo, are switchmode power-supplys, and therefore makes DC voltage as opposed to out normal AC trafos.
I was there wondering if it would be possible to use a laptop power-supply (PSU). I have a 135 Watt 20,5 Volt Lenovo PSU, and thought
I would try that, but how should I connect it ? After a lot of talk with the clever guys at Marklin-Users.net forum I decided to drop the idea
and purchase a real Marklin trafo - the 60101. But after this arrived I was able to make a complete power connection info:
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| REMEMBER the connector goes in upside down - the flat side is faced down !!!! |
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After this I actually tried connecting a Dell 19V/3A trafo to my Mobile Station 2. It works fine, BUT ! - its clearly not made for modeltrains,
because its very sensitive to shorts, and they happen all the time. When a short happens, the PSU "shuts down" and you have to unplug it,
and plug it back in before it works again. Its just too sensitive. Maybe a very large PSU like the 135W Lenovo would be less sensitive, but
that could also destroy your controllers. Maybe a 1-2 Ohm power resistor in series with the positive lead could help dissipate the short and
make it less sensitive, but that could also lower to input power too much. A car bulb would work well too, but when you consider it all, I
think you are better off with a Märklin trafo which is made for the purpose. But use your laptop trafos to power all your other stuff, like
lights, turnouts and so on.
You can soft turn off the CS2. That means you can choose "shutdown" and after showing the closed loco-shed the screen blanks,
and the CS2 is now hibernating. You can turn it on again by pressing the big "STOP" button
Messured on a 60215 which is on its own, not connected to anything
Power on : 6.0 Watt
Powered off : 3.3 Watt
You can leave it powered off like that, but not only does it draw a fair amount power, it also does not power down any attached
mobile stations.
Updating your mobile stations is simple. Just plug them in and follow the menus.
BUT ! - If you have a Mobile Station 1 with a program version that is too old (mine was : AP: 1.0 4010) you need a fully updated Central Station 1 (60212),
to update your Mobile Station 1 (MS1). After update the version is 1.7 4010, and it connects fine to the CS2
BUT ! - You are going to need a special cable to connect your MS1 directly to the Central Station 1 (CS1). Its called 60124 or sparepart
number 610479.
If the version is too old, the screen will flash between "MÄRKLIN" and all the possible signs on the display.
I havent confirmed this, but its said that a fully updated ESU ECoS can perform the update as well.
Using old Märklin digital equipment with the CS2
It is possible to connect your older digital equipment to your CS2.
Before my CS2, I had a Central Station 6021, a Control 80f 6036, an interface 6051 and a booster.
I can re-use it all through a connect 6021 (60128), but only as a one way control - the CS2 cannot send any info back.
The Central Station (6021) must not be connected to the tracks, but only used as a controller.
The booster can also be re-used as normal, there is just no feedback, so Mfx locos wont register them selfs. The booster must be connected to
CS2 through the connector at the buttom.
Email :kenneth@pallund.dk