Difference between PS2/PS3?

Well, right off the top PS3 eliminates the batteries. There are capacitors. It does take longer for PS3 engines to Start up, so patience is a virtue. I believe the board(s) are smaller.

Beyond that, sound files continue to "evolve" so you may get better sounds depending upon the locomotive.

Gilly

With PS3 you get:

Wireless drawbars in steamers in Railking (a drawback in my book)

LED Lighting with Rule 17. 

Smaller boards

No battery

Improved sound quality. 

I don't have a PS2 but my PS3 doesn't take any longer than a PS1. You can also move a PS3 with out starting it up.

I haven't noticed any difference in start up time between PS2 and PS3, but I haven't had my sole PS2 out for a while either? The PS3 engines are ready to go before the remote finishes starting up. If I remember correctly, I think a PS2 will also move without starting it up.

Conventional requires a 20 second or so wait for the caps to charge. Unfortunately, my PS3 0-6-0 seems to have an issue charging. Sometimes it will come on right away in conventional then die and recharge (then run fine) after bringing the throttle back down to cycle into forward. 

I have never tried running one in conventional, DCS only. I have some sidings I park on that are switched on/off with toggles. When I turn on a siding they seem to start right up. At least faster than I can select them with the remote and hit start up. Still practicing, but I have yet to beat one.

PS3 = No track polarity issues when used in the 2 rail world.

DCC compatible.

At least twice the memory for really large sound files.

If I understand it right no need to fool with changing tach tapes as engine speed won't be affected by a sound file change. If the chain file is changed then may have to speed match.

If I understand it right no need to fool with changing tach tapes as engine speed won't be affected by a sound file change. If the chain file is changed then may have to speed match.

That's correct.

It is not necessary to press startup button on a PS3.  If track is already powered and DCS signal on, simply scrolling up speed will do it. 

Only on recent PS3 engines. My two PS3s, both earlier models, don't have the "auto-start" feature. You've got to hit start up. 

Robert,

It is not necessary to press startup button on a PS3.  If track is already powered and DCS signal on, simply scrolling up speed will do it. 

Only for newer PS3. My Premier Shay (5/2013) and RK Imperial Decapod (mid 2014) will do this, some earlier PS3's will not.

What about powering a siding after the TIU has been on for a while with PS3 (no watch dog signal being sent by TIU start up)? That's when mine start in just a few seconds all by themselves (in conventional?). Before I can get them selected in the remote. If I select them first I get the 'Not on Track' or 'Engine not Found' or whatever error message.

When they start up before I get to them in the remote, I usually do a shut down a and restart them. Is that something I don't need to be doing now with PS3?

Will have to check and see which ones of mine start with the thumb wheel, I have not tried that yet.

Added after checking: Don't have all my engines out, but the ones I do have out are all PS3. The RK scale SD-45 and the RK scale RS-3 both start with a turn of the thumbwheel, all 3 others, SW1500 and 2-ES44AC's do not.

The "automatic" start up feature activates when you scroll up the speed via the thumbwheel.  Just powering on the track doesn't do a DCS startup.

What about powering a siding after the TIU has been on for a while with PS3 (no watch dog signal being sent by TIU start up)? That's when mine start in just a few seconds all by themselves (in conventional?). Before I can get them selected in the remote. If I select them first I get the 'Not on Track' or 'Engine not Found' or whatever error message.

First, it's not necessary to press Startup if you just want the engines to become dark and silent. Pressing just Shutdown will do that for you.

However, there's another way to avoid pressing Shut Down altogether.

From the O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition, page 167:

If a PS2 engine comes up in conventional mode for any reason, the DCS operator has two options. If the operator desires that the engine be dark and silent, waiting for a DCS Start Up command to be issued, all that's required is to select the PS2 engine using the Engine Control Screen and press the Shut Down key. The engine will become dark and silent in DCS stealth mode, waiting for a future Start Up command.

If, however, the operator desires to put the engine into DCS command mode and then operate it, all that's required is to select the PS2 engine using the Engine Control Screen and press the Start Up key

PS2 engine lashups, however, are the exception to this rule. If a lashup misses seeing the watchdog signal, pressing Start Up has no effect. For PS2 lashups to come up in DCS mode, it's necessary to do one of two things. The first is to power off the TIU channel to which the tracks where the lashup resides are connected. Then, if there's a toggle switch that controls the siding or track block where the lashup resides, this switch must be turned on before turning on power to the TIU channel to which the tracks are connected. Power must then be turned on quickly enough that the lashup catches the watchdog signal. The second is to first highlight the engine in the remote's Active or Inactive Engine list. Then, turn on the toggle switch and immediately press the thumbwheel to select the engine. It will come up in DCS stealth mode, dark and silent. This also works with individual PS2 engines.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry,

So I take it that if the PS3 engine has already started from switching on the toggle, then pressing only the start up button will get it into command mode and nothing else is required. I wasn't sure about that one?

I do have your book in both flavors, digital and hard copy, but my memory ain't what is used to be. Thanks for the refresher.

So I take it that if the PS3 engine has already started from switching on the toggle, then pressing only the start up button will get it into command mode and nothing else is required.

Correct!

Perfect, thanks for the clarification.

I will agree, in conventional mode it does take sometime to start. I haven't ran it that way since I got it. It almost seems quite longer than 20 seconds. I actually thought the engine was DOA.