We lived abroad when our kids were young in the 1980s, and in Europe purchased a Marklin HO-gauge train set (and extra engines, cars, track, etc) all made in West (sic) Germany. Lot of fun at the time, but they were boxed as kids grew up, and now those kids want grandpa to bring out the trains here in the USA for THEIR kids.
The obvious problem is that everything was made to operate on 220/50hz household current. Is it feasible to use this set here, with a step-up transformer or otherwise?
Are the track and engines specific to 220/50hz, or are there ways to convert to 120/60hz?
Who knows how interested I'll get now that I have time, but at the very least want to get the system operating if possible. Yup, wrapped around little fingers.
Thanks to whoever can and will help this in-over-his-head grandpa!
contact a Europen modeler who has a Marklin. verify the output (supplying power to the rails) voltage from the transformer. what is the voltage and is it AC or DC? with this information, you can buy an american transformer with the same output voltage. everything should work just fine.
if the voltage is AC, the 50/60 cycles will not make a difference.
Marklin is sold in the USA. i would assume there is an American version of the transformer availalbe. check E-Bay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Marklin-37547-Transformer-New_W0QQitemZ370206060476QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item5632002fbc&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A200
new marklin 110V transformer
This fellow sells European trains in the USA, and he knows his stuff. He will surely help steer you in the right direction. BTW, you meant a step-down transformer?
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies, Inc. http://www.modellbahnott.com1145 E. Philadelphia Ave. Gilbertsville, PA 19525 ph: 610-367-5925 fax: 610-367-2967M-Th 11-8, F 11-9, Sat 10-8, Sun 12-5
Grandpa,
The locos are not 110/220 specific but the transformers are. The locos themselves run on 0-16 VAC and use a voltage surge 20VAC+ to reverse. You must use a Marklin transformer designed for 110 Household current. Power Packs designed for US two rail DC trains won't work. Fortunately the Marklin 110 VAC versions are easily had in the US. Ott is good, Ebay is the place to get them used for cheap. Freight may cost a bit as they are heavy. Marklin did offer a two rail DC line called HAMO, it is very unlikely, but make sure that you don't have these models (clearly marked on the box and there is no power pick up ski on the bottom of the loco). If you do have HAMO locos, they will run on DC current.
The Marklin stuff is great quality. Have fun.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Thank you Wazzzy for the info and eBay transformer link, and selector for the suggestion to call Ott. And Guy, your explanation ties it all together very nicely. Appreciate all of you taking the time to help this newbie with a beginner's problem. Thank you!