brown ground sockets/terminals. In such a situation if the
power cord for one transformer is still plugged into a house-
hold current outlet, a dangerous alternating current will be
present in the bare metal parts of the power cords plugs for
the other transformers.
Always observe the following:
The power cords for several transformers should therefore
always be plugged into a common power distribution strip.
The transformers must always be connected to or discon-
nected from the household current by plugging or unplug-
ging the power cord for the distribution strip!
• Electrical power consumers (examples: feeder con-
nections, turnouts, signals, lights, etc.) must never be
connected to two or more transformers at the same time,
because this situation will create the dangerous alternat-
ing current described above.
Important:
Two or more solenoid accessories connected together to
a switch or to a circuit track must not receive their power
from different transformers.
• Never touch any bare metal parts on a layout, before
the entire layout is completely without power, i. e. all
transformers must be disconnected from the household
current.
• A locomotive must never be stopped continuously over
the separation point between two track power circuits in
conventional operation with DC transformers!
2. Connecting the Transformer
Make sure that the power cords for all of the transformers
used with your layout are disconnected from the household
current before connecting a transformer to the layout!
Possible Uses for the Transformer
Transformer:
– Operation with DC current for train control.
– Connect only the feeder track 8590
– Operation with AC current for conventional hookup of
turnouts, signal mechanisms and lights.
2.1 Technical Information
The Märklin Z locomotives are designed for operation with
10 volts DC.
The Z solenoid accessories require 10 volts AC for operation.
The Z power pack has a maximum power output of 8 VA
(0.8 amps x 10 volts) for track power and a maximum power
output of 8 VA for accessories.
Power requirements of Z products
Track power (DC)
Locomotives
Light bulb
Accessories (AC)
Turnout mechanism
Universal relay
Grade crossing
Transfer table / turntable
Light bulb
2.5-3.5 VA
0.3 VA
3.5 VA
5.0 VA
4.5 VA
3.0 VA
0.3 VA
5