Feedback contacts

[Olivier]

Hello,

I am in my starting phase with Win-Digipet 2009 but I noticed a strange thing. After drawing part of my layout I assigned contact numbers to some tracks and despite some tracks are not yet connected to the feedback contacts S-88, when I go back into the track diagram these tracks are blinking in red like if there were occupied. Do you see any explanation?

I am working with Märklin 6051, connected to Sony Vaio laptop via RS-232. Feedback module RM-GB-8 from LDT and S-88 from Märklin.

Your feedback is welcomed.

Many thanks.

Olivier

[Stefan Lersch]

Hi Olivier,

welcome to the forum! The tracks are blinking? Please check the insulation of the corresponding real tracks. There might be a connection to the surrounding tracks.

[Olivier]

Hello Stefan,

Thank you for your advise, I will check this, but I think the tracks are insulated because in this part of the layout I even connected k-84 to switch of the power supply. Do you think it could be an interference on the S-88 cable which goes to the Interface?

Thank you for your support.

Olivier

[Stefan Lersch]

Hello Olivier,

yes, this is possible. Are the wires crossing each other? You should avoid this.

[Olivier]

Hello Stefan,

Which wire? The red (power supply) or braun with the S-88 cable. Should I insulate the S-88 cable for example, do you have any recommendation how to do that?

Thank you for your answer.

Olivier

[Stefan Lersch]

Hi Olivier,

there I can't help you. I use DC and you AC. This should answer someone who also uses Märklin.

[Markus Herzog]

Hi Olivier,

the S88 bus cable and the red-brown power supply to the tracks should cross each if necessary with an angle of 90°. You should escapically avoid to install S88 and power supply cables side by side e.g. in a cable duct.

Regards
Markus

[dconner]

Dear Olivier,
                I'm not an expert, but I would suggest that you may have a problem with your LDT RM-GB-8 unit. I experienced something similar which was caused by the LDT extension cable (2m) being incorrectly configured at one end.
I just reversed the conecter coming from the LDT unit and the free end of the extension conecter, i.e. White to Pink, Brown to Grey etc., which got round the problem.

                I hope this helps ?

                Regards, David CONNER
 

[Olivier]

Hello Markus, hello David,

Thank you for your answer, finally this week end I could spend some time on my train track and tried to find a solution to my problem. However despite your different advises the problem is still there and it looks to be a software problem. I did the following:

I disconected the cable of the S-88 between the Interface and the Feedback module, therefore there no more connection possible. However on my Windigipet diagram the contact are still blinking like if there was tracks being occupied. Very, very strange.

I even created fake feedback contact on the diagram, for example contact 8, which is not connected and once in a while this feedback is blinking too.

It looks like there is software issue, unless I missed something in the configuration of the software. Should I do a full reinstall or do you have any other suggestion. Many thanks for your help, maybe Dr. Peterlin has some advise on this issue as well.

I joined a connection diagram of the Feedback module RM-GB-8 from LDT for understanding. I have an alternative connection through K-84 has shown on the lower part of the pdf, I am using M tracks from Märklin.

[Peterlin]

Hello Oliver,

this is really strange, but in case of a software problem we would have many complains about that.

I believe it is the Interface 6051 itself. Do you use this interface 6051 before with any other software ?
If not then I know that the first Märlin Interfaces from 1985/1986 were buggy regarding the reading of the s88. They must be returned to Märklin Service for repair.

Test it if setting the COM-Port inside Win-Digipet system  to "NO" (Kein). Any blinking tracks ??

Further more : How many s88 do use ?  Did you set the modules correctly ?
F.e. with 5  feedback decoders :

Märklin 6051  -- from module 1 to module 10 Start on Win-Digpet with contact 1.

[Olivier]

Dear Dr. Peterlin,

I used the interface with an old version of Win Digipet, version 6 if I remember well, then I used Stellwerk for a while, I think my Interface should not be of first generation.

Here at home with no connection to my layout, COM port desactivated, it is not blinking.

When last week-end the computer was connected to the layout, if in system settings I set no feedback modules connected, then the blinking was stopping. As soon as I put one feedback module in the system setting, even without the S-88 cable being connected between the Interface and the S-88, it start blinking randomly.

Do you have any other suggestion. How I could "test" if my Interface has a problem? On the back of the Interface there are little switch, I think they are in the right position, could you just remind me the correct position of them.

What are the the alternative in order to connect Windigipet to my computer. Of course I could buy a Central Station but is there alternative less costly and more performing in terms of speed than the Interface. Your advises are very welcomed.

[Peterlin]

Dear Mr. Olivier,

this in fact a very old Win-Digipet version.  It's always better if you ask a question to say which Win-Digipet and which Windows system you use. To be honest , I do not know myself now any details of that old version 
By the way, my advise with the modules before is not valid for this old version.

Interface dip switsches : ON-ON-OFF-OFF

Cable selfmade ? If yes, did you make the bridges like written in the manual ?

There was problem with that old version if you use XP and more than 5 s88 decoders. 

Anyway, I cannot recommend this old interface any more . Please inform yourself about any other digital systems f.e the Easy Control of the firm TAMS.

[Olivier]

Dr. Peterlin,

I think there is a misunderstanding I am using right now the brand new version of Win-Digipet 2009.3b in English. Before that I was using old version of Win Digipet, few years ago. I am under XP Pro service pack 3 and the cable is not selfmade but the none provided by Märklin. The interface is connected through USB-RS232 port COM adapter.

I think the Interface switch are in the correct position. What is strange is that the other functionality of Win Digipet seems working except this feedback issue, which is in fact a very important aspect of the software. I will try to do other test, if you have any other suggestions they are welcomed.

Many thanks and best regards.

Olivier

[Olivier]

Dr. Peterlin,

What about connecting my feedback module to LDT HSI-88-USB? Do you think it would solve this Interface issue? Then I would use the interface for driving and switching and the HSI-88 for feedback module?

I found out about DiCO Station from LDT, is it compatible with Win-Digipet, because I do not find any mention into the manual.

Thank you  for your answer.

Best regards.

Olivier

[Peterlin]

Hello Oliver,

I found out about DiCO Station from LDT, is it compatible with Win-Digipet,

Yes , this ist possible and would be a good idea to separate the feedback modules from this very slow digital system 6051.