Circuit boards

Tom,

on the anatomy,care and feeding of the circuit boards in PS 3 locos

That's easy. Leave them alone and don't open the engine.

I think Barry just covered it.

Sorry guys,been working on trains since 1956.Can't help myself.

Modern locomotives are not in the 'electric age'.  Their software runs on Packet Switching, the same format as email.  This is data communication.  You are better off leaving well enough alone.

Do NOT take the shell of these locomotives unless you are qualified.

If you take shell off, just do it slowly and watch as it comes off where wires are.  When putting shell back on, observe the screw holes on the chassis to ensure no wires near or over the hole that can be caught by the body shell screw post and pinched to the chassis.  Also be careful around where the smoke unit stack engages the shell.  Same care.  G

Thanks for the input ,men. But I've already switched out boards and replaced smoke units and in general tinkered over my locos over the years. I was more interested in testing and general dos and don'ts.

Tom McGriel posted:

Thanks for the input ,men. But I've already switched out boards and replaced smoke units and in general tinkered over my locos over the years. I was more interested in testing and general dos and don'ts.

I'm with you. Only way to learn is by doing with the caveats and experience of the experts. 

Right on, Ted!

Took me years to learn this stuff via experience, experiments and tracing board circuits (reverse engineering).  You want me to transfer that information in a post

Easier to ask a specific question and learn step by step.

One piece of advice for MTH and all new Lionel.  AC is AC, and DC is DC and never shall the two be connected by your test probe!  Chassis Ground is AC ground and should not be a reference against the DC output of the board.

That was TMCC and modular Legacy only.  Also never MTH, though PS-1 bottom boards have no logic circuits so you would not hurt anything.

G

GGG posted:

Took me years to learn this stuff via experience, experiments and tracing board circuits (reverse engineering).  You want me to transfer that information in a post

No Sir, We don't expect that.  Respect and acknowledgement of your experitse.   i.e., my expertise is in emergency medicine  I could teach you to bullet prob or suture in a few minutes, but it would take years to learn all aspects of those procedures.

Easier to ask a specific question and learn step by step.

yes, this is it, i.e., advice here via video, I stopped a squeak sound at speed step one on a steamer.  Opened shell and greased U joint as instructed.  Fixed!  In a couple minutes without repair shop expense/time.

One piece of advice for MTH and all new Lionel.  AC is AC, and DC is DC and never shall the two be connected by your test probe!  Chassis Ground is AC ground and should not be a reference against the DC output of the board.

This is the type of general advice we are also needing.  Thx in advance, your expertise is appreciated.

That was TMCC and modular Legacy only.  Also never MTH, though PS-1 bottom boards have no logic circuits so you would not hurt anything.

G

No disrespect was intended.  Just general knowledge and guidelines as you just provided. Any information passed  along is appreciated and welcomed. Thanks.

"One piece of advice for MTH and all new Lionel.  AC is AC, and DC is DC and never shall the two be connected by your test probe!  Chassis Ground is AC ground and should not be a reference against the DC output of the board."

GGG - A high impedance voltmeter? I question that?

Tom McGriel posted:

No disrespect was intended.  Just general knowledge and guidelines as you just provided. Any information passed  along is appreciated and welcomed. Thanks.

None taken, tongue on cheek response

shawn posted:

"One piece of advice for MTH and all new Lionel.  AC is AC, and DC is DC and never shall the two be connected by your test probe!  Chassis Ground is AC ground and should not be a reference against the DC output of the board."

GGG - A high impedance voltmeter? I question that?

Is that what everyone has?  Ok, but what is the purpose of checking DC values against an AC ground when that is not reference for the DC board??  G

your right as usual that is only a good way to blow a perfectly good ps 2 or ps3 boards. been there  and done that .

Alan

I am in the school of if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I define broke loosely. Pullmor motors and Suethe and puffer smoke units are "broke".

I would suggest if you want to tinker is to insulate the contacts on the steam engine drawbars even if it has the thin plastic cover. Some use shrink tube, I use clear 5 minute epoxy. While you are working on it make sure there is sufficient slack in the cable that plugs into the drawbar  on the engine side. Sometimes they have it wire tied too tight and it limits the swing and unplugs itself. For that you might have to pull the shell.

Pete