Marklin Decoder m84 (60841) Programming and Setting

The Marklin m84 (Item no 60841) was introduced in 2014 and starting to deliver from 2015. However, the product instruction from Marklin was very confusing in the early stage. I hope this post could help us to explore the unit in detail. 

Basic Function

- Digital format

This unit provides continuous current on and off control for various digital system: Motorola, mfx and DCC. 

- Power source

Unlike the k84, the m84 allows user to have individual power source / voltage for each output pair, e.g. 16V AC for lighting on Output pair 1;  22V digital track current for stopping area on Output pair 3. Also, the 60822 power supply unit was suggested by Marklin to reduce the demand of digital track power. But given the pricing of 60822 and the availability, it would be better to keep the old and reliable practice: separate transformer for accessories and booster for track. 

- Output

The function logic is different from the k84 (6084 and 60840), all the output relays are off when there is a short circuit or power off. The relays would go through "self checking" process when power on or power resumes, you could hear a few seconds of "click" sound. There are 8 relays on the m84, you may switch on Output 1 Green and Output 1 Red simultaneously by advance programming, but there is a limitation to control individual output switching (more details on advance programming). 

Advance Programming:

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

1. Disconnect all power from m84 when working on DIP setting
2. DCC mode must ON for CV programming, set DIP switch 10 at ON

3. Connect a light bulb on Output Pair 1 for reliable CV programming (Not needed for DIP setting)

4. Turn OFF the track power after CV programming, then turn ON again to apply setting

- Hobbylight

• Slide the RED switch to the RIGHT (located on the top right corner)
• CV 38 - brightness setting for Hobbylight
• Value 0 - 10 :
• 0   -  Default value, not lighted 
• 10 -  Full brightness

- MM Address setting (Motorola, mfx)

• Set DIP switches 1 to 9 accordingly
• Set DIP switch 10 at OFF

• Group Address  = Sum of binary value of DIP switches 1 to 9
• e.g. DIP1 to 4 = ON, DIP5 to 9 = OFF
• Group Address  = [1 x 1 ] + [1 x 2 ] + [1 x 4 ] + [1 x 8 ] + [0 x 16] + [0 x 32] + .... = 15
• Addressees under Group 15 are 57, 58, 59, 60

- DCC Address setting

• Set DIP switches 1 to 9 at OFF
• Set DIP switch 10 at ON

• Group Address = CV1 + (CV9 x 64) 
• CV1 - lower part of address group 
• Value 0 - 63  

• CV9 - lower part of address group
• Value 0 - 7

• e.g. CV1 = 10, CV9 = 2
• Group Address  = 10 + (2 x 64) = 138
• Addressees under Group 138 are 549, 550, 551, 552 

- Reset Setting

• CV 8 -  reset the setting on m84
• Value 8 :
• 8  -  RESET

- Output Configuration

I will cover this section in detail which may take more time to edit. But I would like to mention a very important setting first, the temporal scale of Timer setting on m84 is 1.0 second but 0.05 second on m83. 

for example:

CV 112 @ value 16

CV 114 @ value 10 

m84 explanation:  Switch on Output 1 Red at maximum switching time of 10 seconds

m83 explanation:  Switch on Output 1 Red at maximum switching time of 0.5 second

	Function	Pulse Width	Period (Timer)
Output 1Red	112	113	114
Output 1Green	115	116	117
Output 2Red	118	119	120
Output 2Green	121	122	123
Output 3Red	124	125	126
Output 3Green	127	128	129
Output 4Red	130	131	132
Output 4Green	133	134	135

NOTE: CV114, 117, 120, 123, 126, 129, 132, 135 are the timer setting.