I purchase a box of MTH bulbs and would like to organize them by what boards their compatible with. What are the voltages used for the different boards, marker and headlight, and is there a way to test a bulb for its voltage capability with a meter or is the only way to apply voltage to them? Also, some look to be tiny colored LED's. Were LEDs used at all prior to PS3?
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The marker LEDs are all the same. Some are just wired in series and some are wired parallel.
Thanks Dave on the LED's. I hope the incandescent are the same too.
PS1 used LEDs, 1.5v incandescent and 18 volt track powered incandescents
PS2 used LEDs and 6 volt incandescents
PS3 only used LEDs, except for 18v lamps used in Subways, etc., that receive track power and are not powered via the board.
Easiest way to test is to make a fixture with a 1.5v dry cell and 6 volt power source, assuming that the 18v lamps will burn dim. Start with the lowest voltage when testing lamps. We have on of these at MTH that also tests LEDs. You can test the LEDs with a 9v battery and a 200 ohm resistor in series.
Thank you Jon
@David Minarik posted:The marker LEDs are all the same. Some are just wired in series and some are wired parallel.
Not true:-) The PS-3 markers are still in series like PS-2, but they swapped the polarity of the plug. SO if you used them in a PS-2 engine they do not light.
Dave Z, only way to do this is test at 1.5V first. To get all the brightly lite bulbs identified as 1.5V. Then move to 6 or 9V battery. Get the 6V bulbs including some RK screw in types. Then move to 16 or track power to get the 18V track power bulbs.
LED can be test on 9V with a 300 ohm resistor. G
Don't forget the 3v bulb used in PS1 mars lights. The bulbs are color coded.
@GGG posted:Not true:-) The PS-3 markers are still in series like PS-2, but they swapped the polarity of the plug. SO if you used them in a PS-2 engine they do not light.
Dave Z, only way to do this is test at 1.5V first. To get all the brightly lite bulbs identified as 1.5V. Then move to 6 or 9V battery. Get the 6V bulbs including some RK screw in types. Then move to 16 or track power to get the 18V track power bulbs.
LED can be test on 9V with a 300 ohm resistor. G
The Lights are the same. So swap the pins. Not hard to do. Protosound was wired in parallel.
Don't disagree, but for those not as technical they need to know why swapping in from a PS-3 diesel kit to repair a PS-2 loco they won't light up. 
G
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