MTH Upgrade Questions

Not by the remote or app…….PS2 5V uses what looks like a 9V battery, either in the tender ( most cases) or in the shell of a diesel. PS2 3V uses what looks like two AA batteries wrapped in usually blue heat shrink. The best and easiest path for replacing the 5V system is the PS32 board set, re-using the 5V connectors on the board set. I’ve had a few 5V PS2 blow up, and GGG ( George ) has set me up pretty much plug-n-play new PS32 boards, only real mod that has to be done is the heat sink mount has to me modified for this swap,….and that’s not difficult at all,……now as far as board availability, ….I have no clue,…..reports vary from some have some, to there’s none anywhere,….

Pat

ps 3/2 boards are out of stock n hard to tell when they will be in ! if it's a ps2 5 volt board you'll have to change the speaker to 4 ohm and what ever size mm the speaker is 50 mm is very common for some engine but easiest way is tell us you mth engine item number like 20-2038-1 etc  let me know if you need help !

Alan

Tom - In reply to your first question as to how to determine whether an engine is PS2 or 3 equipped, in my experience often there is a tiny gold 'PS2' or 'PS3' sticker affixed to the underside of an engine which is visible to the naked eye or, if you're like me, to a magnifying glass!  😉

Another easy way to tell the 5V and 3V Proto-Sound 2.0 locomotives apart is by the charging connector.  The 5V boards use a round barrel connector while 3V boards us a small square two pin molex connector.

Tom,  Can't tell from remote.  If you apply power conventionally a PS-3 engine will turn on the headlight (can depend on the upgrade) and take a few seconds to start up because it charges the super caps.  A PS-2 engine will start up immediately at power on.

PS-3 diesel upgrades are a pure OEM PS-3 upgrade with LEDs.

PS-3 Steam upgrades are a PS-32 board with 10 pin harness.  Real OEM PS-3 steam are 6 pin drawbar and a two board set.  Tender board and Boiler board. MTH does not sell the upgrade kit with real PS-3 boards for steam.  Only diesel.

PS-2 5V and 3V repairs are done with the PS-32 board.

PS-32 board is a base PS-3 diesel board with a different header, and an adapter board that retains original PS-2 3V or 5V harness connections.  Drives bulbs instead of LEDs.

When a PS-32 board is used the special PS-32 flash code is used, but any PS-2 3V or PS-3 sound file can be used.

PS-3 diesel upgrades use the PS-3 diesel flash code and sound file to get the most out of the lighting.  You could use a 3V SF, but might loose some light function.  G

Thanks for your reply.  I am contemplating selling a locomotive that has been upgraded and want to have an accurate  description.  Tom