Can I convert a marklin 3511 locomotive with a Faulhaber Type motor using a esu decoder

Digital Conversion Analog-->Digital
1

Someone asked: Can I convert a marklin 3511 locomotive with a Faulhaber Type motor using a esu decoder

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  • Gemini
  • gptoss
  • None of these, see my reply below
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Gemini
• Yes, decoder conversion is fully possible.
• Install a standard ESU LokPilot decoder.
• Match decoder output to motor voltage.
• Adjust CV settings for coreless motor control.
• Ensure electrical isolation from the chassis.
• Use a decoder with high frequency PWM.

gptoss
• Marklin 3511 uses DC traction, not suitable.
• Faulhaber motor is brushless, requires ESC control.
• ESU decoder incompatible with brushless motors.
• Requires custom ESC and wiring modifications.
• Possible but complex, not recommended.

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3

Required Tools & Materials

  • ESU LokPilot V5 Decoder (Wired or with a 21MTC adapter board)
  • Soldering iron and rosin-core solder
  • Heat-shrink tubing (to prevent short circuits)
  • Fine screwdrivers
  • Two 1k Ohm resistors (if you completely bypass the original light board circuitry) [1, 2, 3]

Step-by-Step Conversion Procedure

Step 1: Open the Locomotive & Inventory

  1. Carefully unscrew the locomotive body from the chassis.
  2. Locate the original analog electronic regulation board in the tender/locomotive.
  3. Identify the two terminals on the Faulhaber coreless motor, the center pickup slider wire, the chassis ground wire, and the front/rear lighting connections. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Step 2: Remove the Old Electronics

  1. Carefully desolder and remove the entire analog 5-Star circuit board.
  2. Ensure the two terminals of the Faulhaber motor are completely isolated from the locomotive chassis. Warning: Coreless motors are highly sensitive; a direct short circuit to track power will instantly destroy the motor. [1, 2, 3]

Step 3: Wire the ESU LokPilot V5 Decoder

Follow the standard NEM 652 / DCC color codes to solder the decoder wires: [1]

  • Red Wire: Solder directly to the cable coming from the center pickup slider (track power).
  • Brown Wire: Solder to the chassis ground eyelet or grounding point.
  • Orange Wire: Solder to the first motor terminal.
  • Gray Wire: Solder to the second motor terminal.
  • White Wire: Connect to the front headlight.
  • Yellow Wire: Connect to the rear tender light.
  • Blue Wire (Decoder U+): Use this as the common positive return for your lights. [1, 2, 3]

:light_bulb: Important Note on Lighting: The Märklin 3511 uses LEDs for its directional headlights. Do not connect the decoder’s function wires (White/Yellow) directly to the raw LEDs without a 1k Ohm resistor in series. Connect the anode (+) of the LEDs to the Blue wire and the cathode (-) through a resistor to the White/Yellow wires. This prevents the LEDs from burning out and ensures flicker-free operation. [1]

Step 4: Insulate and Secure

  1. Cover all exposed solder joints with heat-shrink tubing.
  2. Secure the LokPilot V5 decoder inside the chassis or tender using double-sided foam tape, ensuring it does not pinch any wires when closing the shell. [1, 2]

Step 5: Decoder Programming & Motor Tuning

IMPORTANT. Before running the locomotive at full speed, you must configure the LokPilot V5 specifically for a coreless (Faulhaber) motor: [1, 2]

  • : Place the locomotive on your programming track.

  • ESU LokProgrammer: If you have an ESU LokProgrammer, read out the decoder and select the “Coreless Motor / Faulhaber” preset in the motor settings. [1, 2]

  • LokPilot V5: If programming manually via CVs (Configuration Variables), adjust the pulse-width modulation (PWM) CV 9 frequency to the highest setting (typically 40 kHz, handled automatically by the LokPilot V5) to protect the coreless armature.
    The Value Scale: The frequency is calculated as a multiple of 1,000 Hz (1 kHz).

  • The Allowed Range: You can input a value from 10 to 50, which translates to a frequency range of 10 kHz to 50 kHz.

  • The Default Setting: The factory standard is normally set to 40 (which equals 40 kHz)

  • You can also trigger ESU’s automatic motor calibration:

    • Write a value of 0 to CV 54.
    • Place the loco on a long, open track.
    • Press F1 in your digital system. The locomotive will automatically accelerate at full speed for a few seconds to measure motor characteristics and configure itself perfectly.

If you are programming manually via your DCC system’s command station, adjust the primary load control parameters (starting with typical baseline values for coreless/Faulhaber motors):

  • CV 53 (Motor Reference Voltage): Set according to your track voltage and motor max rating (typically around 140 for 12V motors on standard DCC). [1]
  • CV 54 (K-parameter / Load Control Intensity): Set to a much lower value than default, typically between 4 and 10 (default is often much higher, which causes surging or jerking with coreless motors).
  • CV 55 (I-parameter / Regulation Inertia): Set to a lower value, typically between 3 and 8, because coreless motors lack heavy internal armature inertia.
  • CV 56 (Control Frequency / Adaption): Adjust if you hear a high-pitched buzzing noise; standard settings are around 255 or default adaptive settings, but setting bit 4 to “1” in CV 124 can lock a constant regulation frequency if buzzing occurs.

See posted thread on Lok Pilot v5 Complete CV list for entire CV list.