What is the difference between CTC and PI-Rail?

PI-Rail is the open-source foundation of the CTC products. On the PI-Rail project pages on GitLab, you will find the complete source codes of the CTC app and the firmware of the CTC modules.

CTC (Clever Train Control) primarily provides you with ready-to-use modules for locomotives, turnouts, signals, etc., as well as consultation and services for conversion to CTC.

Why does CTC need direct current? Märklin runs on alternating current.

CTC works with direct, alternating, and digital current.

The control of the motor is carried out with pulsed direct current (PWM). This is not a problem as Märklin motors have always been suitable for direct current.

For alternating current, it is important to ensure that the buffer capacitors on the modules are large enough to generate the direct voltage required for the processor. The current CTC turnout modules and CTC Multi-I/O Boards are equipped with a sufficiently dimensioned buffer capacitor.

A larger buffer capacitor should be installed in the locomotives anyway.

Can the layout also be operated with control software via the PC?

Currently, there is no support from the manufacturers of control software. However, initial discussions have already been held.

Which control software would you recommend?

We can answer that as soon as there are some with an interface to CTC.

Do already digitized locomotives, cranes, etc., need to be converted?

Yes, if you want to operate them together via the CTC app.

However, you can control locomotives, turnouts, … on a layout via the existing digital control center and simultaneously control CTC-converted locomotives and turnouts with the CTC app. However, both systems do not communicate with each other, which means that automated processes are only very limited.

Is a control center no longer needed?

Correct - CTC does not require a control center at all. You only need a power supply on the track and a WLAN Access Point.

What is the purpose of the CTC Multi-I/O Board?

The CTC Multi-I/O Board is comparable to a CTC turnout module, but it has 8 switching outputs instead of 4 and also includes 4 sensor inputs and 2 connections for model construction servos.

What should be considered in conjunction with the old metal tracks and the plastic track and the infrared transmitters?

The infrared transmitters must be installed between the ties. For metal and C-tracks, this means that holes must be drilled into the rails.

We are currently experimenting with thin electronics films. If it works, the infrared diodes can also be placed on the ties. Then drilling will no longer be necessary.

Are infrared transmitters indispensable for control?

CTC also supports the classic sensor concepts like switching tracks and reed relays. To do this, the CTC Multi-I/O Board has four connections.

However, you then lose the advanced capabilities of the infrared transmitters:

  • Automatic stopping before a signal
  • Reliable position display in the track layout
  • Display of the average speed of the locomotive in the app
  • Automatic calibration of the motor sensor in the locomotive

Are the circuit boards of elements like turnouts, infrared, IO Board, etc., delivered in housings?

The circuit boards currently have no housing. For CTC turnout modules, there is a holder for easy mounting on the board, in case they are not built into the C-track.

Is the reception of the WLAN signal in the metal locomotives from Märklin really secure?

We have already converted various locomotives with metal housings. We were surprised ourselves at how smoothly the radio connection works with these locomotives. Here are some specific Märklin examples:

Can locomotives with bell anchor or sinus drive also be converted?

Our current locomotive modules cannot do this directly. With the help of a separate driver module, however, this should fundamentally be no problem. A suitable locomotive module is already in planning - please contact us if needed.

Is the protocol for the locomotive decoders available, i.e., which commands control the locomotives?

Yes - the entire software is published as open source under the name PI-Rail on GitLab. You can therefore make any mixture of modules purchased from CTC, CTC software, and own developments.

The documentation is still under development - contact us if you have questions.

By the way, we welcome anyone who wants to collaborate on PI-Rail (the technical basis for CTC).

I somehow can’t find the CTC app for Android in the App Store. Does it have a different name?

The app is not yet available through the App Store. However, you can currently download it as an APK file directly from the project page on GitLab.

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How do you connect lighting and light signals to CTC modules?

You can connect lighting and light signals to the switching outputs of the CTC Multi-I/O Board (or the CTC turnout module): one output per light. For LEDs, appropriate resistors should be included with the lighting or light signal.

For light signals from Viessmann, you need to make sure that they are not the ones with “multiplex connection” (Art.No. 47xx). These cannot be directly connected to a CTC module, but only to the “multiplexer” from Viessmann. However, you can then connect its button inputs to the switching outputs of the CTC modules.

The new Märklin light signals can be controlled via DCC using a CTC locomotive module and the DCC firmware.