Marklin MFx decoder identification

[wilwahabri]

I have recently acquired a Marklin DB BR 185 loco which came with a dcc decoder installed.  It identified itself as Trix sound BB12000, however I have been unable to locate any instructions for a decoder with this identifier in either the Trix or Marklin websites. It appears to be original installation.

 

Does anyone know where I might find data on this particular decoder? It is fully operational but I would like to add sound if possible

[Nigelcliffe]

No idea, and "what identifies it" as a BB12000 ?    The BB12000 is a French electric loco.  

 

[GoingUnderground]

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If it runs on 2 rail then it is very unlikely to be a Maerklin brand loco, unless someone has gone to great lengths to convert it to 2 rail and add a decoder. What you've got is most likely to be the Trix branded version Trix 22761. Here is a rather long link to the repevant page on the Trix website.

 

https://www.trix.de/de/produkte/details/article/22761/2063/?tx_torrpdb_pi1[backlink]=2063&tx_torrpdb_pi1

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=1&tx_torrpdb_pi1[perpage]=10&tx_torrpdb_pi1[era]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[newonly]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[available_only]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[gaugechoice]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[groupchoice]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[subgroupchoice]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[feature]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[catalog]=0&tx_torrpdb_pi1[searchstring]=&tx_torrpdb_pi1[search_artnum]=22761&tx_torrpdb_pi1[searchres]=1

 

which is the Trix version of the BR185 loco, not the Maerklin version. It has a multiprotocol decoder which supports Selectrix and DCC and something called Trix System which may or may not be mfx by another name according to the product description.

 

Here is a link to the manual

 

https://static.maerklin.de/damcontent/0d/f4/0df4a3049872b1da1f1448cc0c147b101434535657.pdf

 

According to the exploded diagram in the spare parts list, the decoder is soldered directly to the PCB which itself is soldered to direct to the terminals on the motor. I think the decoder will have been made by Doehler & Haas, who developed the Selectrix digital protocol. There is a spare PCB on ebay at the moment and what looks like the decoder has D&H stamped on it.

 

I don't know if D&H make sound decoders, or a sound module that can piggyback of one of their normal decoders via a SUSI interface.

Edited July 25, 2021 by GoingUnderground

[wilwahabri]

JohnDMF quote"

Marklin and Trix are, in effect, the same company and produce 3-rail and two-rail versions of the same model.

 

Marklin H0 are ONLY 3 rail!

 

The model number you quote is for a Trix 2-rail locomotive.

 

Why make two castings for the same locomotive model?"

 

Can't answer that, but Marklin list that number as a starter set including this loco and it is labelled as such on the box and physically in the diecast Chassis. See photos below, and it does not appear to have been converted. This loco is probably 10 years old or more, and whilst Trix and Marklin have amalgamated like Fleischmann and Roco, where Roco now only make HO models and Fleischmann only make N gauge models as they are both owned by the same parent company,  this was not always the case and prior to about 5 years ago they both made models in both scales. I suspect something similar may have happened with Trix and Marklin, with each specialising in a type of model. This probably predates the merger.

 

[GoingUnderground]

Maerklin bought Trix in 1997 and their H0 ranges have been converging ever since.

 

Prior to 1997 Maerklin sold 2 rail versions of their locos under the HAMO brand but dropped that when they bought Trix.

 

Trix have been for years now the 2 rail H0 versions of Maerklin 3 rail H0 models. Thus the specialisation is 2 rail for Trix, and 3 rail for Maerklin, as opposed to the type of model. There is also the Trix N gauge range which has continued under Maerklin's ownership. 

 

An integral part of the Maerklin 3 rail setup is that the wheelsets are not insulated as that is used for occupancy detection on analogue and digital systems using their s88 system. If you're using 2 rail track then the wheelsets on your loco must be insulated or you'd get a short. I don't know if Maerklin use insulated wheelsets on their models and bridge them using pickups.

 

I doubt that the loco is 10 years old as the Maerklin product databank says that set 29841 was only available from 2015-2018, making it up to 6 years old. That puts it, as I understand matters, potentially into the period when Maerklin added DCC to their mfx decoders, and phased out the D&H Selectrix/DCC decoders in Trix models. The fact that the decoder identifies itself as Trix either says that it is a Trix model or that someone has converted it from 3 to 2 rail and added an ex-Trix decoder, which is possible if it thinks it's from a BB12000.

 

Have you taken the body off the loco and looked at the PCB? Are any components marked as D&H?

 

 

[Nigelcliffe]

Or, the decoder isn't correctly identified.  See my answer in the other thread (which moderator Andy locked to stop the duplication of threads). 

[maico]

On 25/07/2021 at 19:34, GoingUnderground said:

Maerklin bought Trix in 1997 and their H0 ranges have been converging ever since.

 

Prior to 1997 Maerklin sold 2 rail versions of their locos under the HAMO brand but dropped that when they bought Trix.

 

Trix have been for years now the 2 rail H0 versions of Maerklin 3 rail H0 models. Thus the specialisation is 2 rail for Trix, and 3 rail for Maerklin, as opposed to the type of model. There is also the Trix N gauge range which has continued under Maerklin's ownership. 

 

An integral part of the Maerklin 3 rail setup is that the wheelsets are not insulated as that is used for occupancy detection on analogue and digital systems using their s88 system. If you're using 2 rail track then the wheelsets on your loco must be insulated or you'd get a short. I don't know if Maerklin use insulated wheelsets on their models and bridge them using pickups.

 

I doubt that the loco is 10 years old as the Maerklin product databank says that set 29841 was only available from 2015-2018, making it up to 6 years old. That puts it, as I understand matters, potentially into the period when Maerklin added DCC to their mfx decoders, and phased out the D&H Selectrix/DCC decoders in Trix models. The fact that the decoder identifies itself as Trix either says that it is a Trix model or that someone has converted it from 3 to 2 rail and added an ex-Trix decoder, which is possible if it thinks it's from a BB12000.

 

Have you taken the body off the loco and looked at the PCB? Are any components marked as D&H?

 

 

 

The Trix website symbols tells us what is is, a built in decoder not 8-pin or 21 pin. For a while Marklin Trix used these for bugdet models

The owners manual lists all the CV values in English

https://static.maerklin.de/damcontent/0d/f4/0df4a3049872b1da1f1448cc0c147b101434535657.pdf