Monitor Power Consumption on Your Layout with Märklin MS2/CS3 (Tutorial 08)

[@baudouinvancaubergh4336]

Vers interesting, thank you. Two comments: 1) I am using the 60101 power supply for my HO layout. When I bought the CS3, I wanted to buy the 60061 power supply coupled with a booster. The distributor advised me to take the 60101 PS instead. Much cheaper and no need to separate my layout in two! When I reminded him that maerklin recommends not to use this PS for a HO layout, he told me not to worry, all advanced (which I am not!) modelists do use 60101 without any problem. 2) Now I know that I have to change my PS setting to 60101!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Bauouin, Using the 60101 is a trick that many Märklin H0 modelers use. To be honest I would probably rather divide the power if my layout becomes so large I need it. More costly, but there are also benefits in dividing your power. However, I understand from fellow Märklin enthusiasts that the 60101 works without issues on a H0 layout. The setting in the CS3 basically instructs the CS3 at which power level it should cut off. If you do not set it to 60101 it means that it will consider it a power overload at a lower level and you will not get the full benefit of your 60101. Enjoy ;-)

[@petersierksma5374]

Thank you very much again. You show very fine teaching skills. Repeating, summarizing. Excellent job!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Peter, thanks and I am glad you like the videos. Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

Extremely interesting video! It's always good to know the power consumption of your layout. After googling for quite some time, I discovered the following: TFP: Track Format Processor For GFP I found this (unfortunately I do not speak Dutch and this translates strange into English and/or Greek): "GFP3-1 is de bus aan de onderzijde van de CS3-plus. De L88 (60883) heeft 3 busreeksen, genummerd Bus 1, Bus 2 en Bus 3."

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, great info on the abbreviations. The GFP is only in the CS3+ if TFP is Track Format Processor one guess could be that GFP is Genral Format Processor? Enjoy ;-)

[@tubefactor1]

Very informative, was not aware of this...

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy ;-)

[@seanpacificrailroad3700]

You have a great channel thank you 😀

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you enjoy it! Have fun with model trains ;-)

[@S_MannMann]

THANKS! What about a very large layout (lots & lots of Track & Turnouts)? Do C-TRACK sections themselves drain powe? GREAT VIDEO!!!r

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Mann99 - yes the C-tracks drain power as well. Not much, but some. When making large layouts you should consider to make a power bus with wires feeding power throughout the layout. I do not have much experience with this, but I hear from colleagues every 2-3 meters - or if using automation every block. For automation stable power is really important to eliminate potential issues. However, I am not an expert on these issues. Hope it helps. Enjoy ;-)

[@KHOU1964]

Very interesting

[@ModelTrainFun]

Glad you think so! Enjoy ;-)

[@kolabuzlu]

Hi. Thanks for all videos! My CS3+ shows some amperage even when main and prog. track wires are not attached, and the device is in stop state. Don’t know why? Is it normal?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Derin, I tried the same on my CS3+. When it is in stop mode the "Current - Main Track" and "Current - Programming. Track" is 0. I have wire and one 24188 attached to each and I still have 0. Note: my Voltage is 19.1. Is your CS3 up to date? My CS3 is version 2.4.0(5) and the TFP3/GFP3-1 is version 12.113. Unsure if there can be a difference between CS3 and CS3+ for the TFP3/GFP3-1 version number. Questions: - How much amp does it show is being used? - What does the Voltage show? - Is there something stuck in the plug on either the CS3 or the wire? - Are you using the correct Märklin power supply? Which one? Enjoy ;-)

[@kolabuzlu]

@@ModelTrainFun Thanks for your reply and thanks for introducing so much information about CS3 family to the community. I've recently watched your automation videos and now I forgot my own name. Too complicated :) Huge thanks again. My CS3+ is up to date. TFP is also up to date, no worries there. Voltage shows 19.1v and I'm using 60041 power supply. My main track generally shows 0 while not using but the problem is in programming track. It always shows an amperage.. Now for example it is 0.010 amps. Nothing connected to programming track socket. By the way, rarely, locos start playing random sounds or horns when I first turn on the device. It's extremely rare but doing it. Don't know why or is normal sometimes? For your information. Best regards.

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@kolabuzlu Don't be too scared of the automation - it can seem overwhelming when you first jump into it. However, consider learning the basics first to ease your way into the automation. I would suggest: 1. Drawing track diagrams: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpqZg2arnL9gibM 2. Making manual routes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqS7m5iGYrqjqLs 3. Red light with a timer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoKmpZ6igbRqf6s The look at: 4. Contact tracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHewiKt7hdKSlbs 5. S88/Link88: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6TKoKNthrd8gZo 5. Basic events: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6W9YoCPrLR_ers Experiment and try it out. When you are comfortable with this, then try the automation episodes. Enjoy ;-)

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@kolabuzlu Great that the main track is 0. Programming track on 0.010 amps - sounds odd, but could be a rounding error? I would not be too worried about this if things seem to work, but agree odd it is not 0. The locos start playing random sounds or horns? I have seen something similar - it occurred very very rarely and does not really seem to happen anymore for me. I have always considers this a startup glitch in the locomotive - not the CS3. but yes agree interesting... I am not sure but I do not seem to see it in most modern locomotives... Also make sure that the brown from the CS3 goes to the "0" on the track and Red to "B". It seems to confuse accessory decoders if it is flipped. Enjoy;-)

[@ModelTrainFun]

@Derin Hakan Karakurt @llyderin Hi Derin, Talking to another viewer it said he had som issues with his CS3. The issue: Its all MFx, all locos and all turnout decoders.w the MS2 all works just fine,but after starting w the CS3+ strange things happens. No loc on the track and all works fine,but when starting a loc w sound and etc the turnouts start blinking ( the lanterns) and the signal blinks. After he got a new (or was it repaired) CS3 he noticed that the CPU temp on the old one was very high (about 60+) and it showed a small amount of amp on the programming track even when not used. I am wondering if you have the same issue? ...or could have an issue you have not noticed? Enjoy ;-)

[@jimstraba5772]

Thanks!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Jim, Thanks for the support to the channel - I am really glad that you like it. All Super Thanks goes directly to the channel so I can make more interesting content. Let me know if you have any ideas that could be interesting. Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@mikedulle1149]

Does the Amp capacity increase with an additional cs3?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Mike, I don't think so. If you look at the Märklin systems architecture here: www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/maerklin-digital/Downloads/Systemarchitektur_Gesamt%C3%BCbersicht.pdf You can see that only one of the Central Stations is connected to the track. I believe this is because only one is allowed to generate the digital signal. This is an issue where the layout connects the two Central Stations. When a locomotive bridges two sections with different digital signals from two different Central Stations, then this would disturb both signals. In order to have more power on the layout you need at booster. You can use the Märklin 60175 and another power supply you would normally use for the Central Station. The drawing I referred to above is a little old, so you need the switching power supplies. Check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKxk6WIZcuXgM0 Enjoy ;-)

[@evangiles4403]

A booster isn't an upgrade it's an additional transformer Available Power is expressed in Amps or VA you can understand the VA because thats the formula for calculating Power = Volt X Amps gives you Output in Watts thus 18 volt X 2 amp = 36 Watts Each point motor, locomotive or accessory will use some wattage Digital Motor's 10 watt LED Lights 1 watt Old Incandescent Bulb 1 watt each Point Motor 0.6 watt this is instantaneous so if you trigger three point's that's 1.8 amp So a train of 1 locomotive and 4 carriages with LED's 4 watts with Old Incandcent 8 watts since there are two bulbs per car If you have a layout with 8 points then 8 x 0.6 = 4.8 watts Total Loco 10.0 watt this is if you run the loco at full speed thus by running your loco at slower speeds you have more watts in reserve Carriages 8 0 watt Points 4.8 watt TOTAL 22.8 watt Thus from this you can see that you can't do a lot with a mobile station you could run a freight train with 1 loco consuming the last 10 Watt

[@ModelTrainFun]

Great information and details - thanks! I really like you explanation of the power consumption using watts and the illustration of how you can calculate it. To me this a more accurate way of estimating the power consumption that is very helpful. This makes a lot of sense. The numbers you present for digital motors, LEDs, light bulbs and point motors - are these typical for the Märklin system? You are absolutely right: A booster is not an upgrade. A booster for the CS3 is an independent device (Märklin 60175) with a matching power supply. Thanks for the detailed info! Enjoy ;-)

[@evangiles4403]

Yes those fiqures are published in the full product catologue Keep in mind that not all points will be running all the time