It can be connected directly to the 60213/60214 Central Station by means of a 9-conductor data bus line. Several Boosters can be used in a system by means of the 60125 Terminal. The Booster automatically registers itself in the 60213/60214 Central Station. An LED on the Booster indicates its operating status; this status is also available graphically in the display on the 60213/60214 Central Station. A maximum output power of 58 VA and a maximum current of 3 amps is available, when the Booster is used with the 60061 switched mode power pack (only 230 volt version available). Dimensions 150 x 110 x 80 mm / 5-7/8 x 4-5/16 x 3-1/8.

The 60174 Booster is only designed for operation in conjunction with the 60213/60214 Central Station.

(if you have a 60173, you may be elegible for a free exchange. Please call)

Technical Information 1/2011
Sitz der Gesellschaft: Göppingen Amtsgericht: Ulm HRB 530004 Geschaftsfuhrer: Stefan Löbich Gebr. Marklin and Cie. GmbH
Stuttgarter Strasse 55-57 D-73033 Göppingen Telefon +49 (0) 7161/6 08-0 Telefax +49 (0) 7161/698 20 Göppingen,

March 30, 2011

Dear Madam/Sir:
This technical newsletter deals with our current digital system.
Exchange of the 60173 Booster for the 60174 Booster

The use of a common ground for all applications has been a technical detail of Marklin's model railroad technology for many years.
The so-called rail ground was a common ground for train operations as well as for solenoid accessory circuits.
Our technicians made a departure from this guiding principle with the introduction of the 60213 Central Station.
Starting with this point in time the requirement was made that ground connections for the Central Station and the 60173 Booster should not be connected with each other continuously. The hot as well as the ground connections at the transition between different power consumption areas therefore had to be separated.

This requirement led to irritation among many model railroaders. Many circuits that were based on the system of a common ground were now only usable under certain limitations.
For a non-technician or a lay person the hurdles resulting from this were in many cases impenetrable.
A factor that admittedly we evaluated incorrectly during the introduction of the new technology.
This change was therefore rescinded with the 60174 Booster.
This unit is designed so that the common ground can be used again as a ground return in the track. Galvanic separation will be used for this. Galvanic separation will prevent undesired connections between the individual components.

The current Central Station will also come from the factory with this galvanic separation. We are exchanging the 60173 Booster for the current 60174 version in a goodwill gesture so that customers still using the earlier 60173 Booster will have the possibility to reintroduce the principle of the common ground on their layouts. We are doing this exchange without recognition of any legal claims.

This exchange is not necessary for other Boosters (6015 or 6017).