How many slave boards can one PS2 or PS3 main board control?

Sometimes a PS-2 can have trouble controlling one slave.  I think the signals, especially the motors would be too weak and you run the risk of the speed of the down stream unit not match, and being dragged.   G

It occurs to me that since I will need 2 full sets of A-B-A units its easier and cheaper to use the electronics I will already have.

A comment from an MTH Tech from the following post may be relevant:

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...622#3400749742340622

 

 

Matt, I was wondering what you are going to pull if you had that animal.  Sounds like a project but I was wondering WHY.  Any current A-B-A with 4 motors can pull just about anything you can put behind it.

Marty, after seeing how heavy the GGD El Capitan cars are, I am not sure 2 powered units will handle it on any sort of grade. Since my wallet barley allows me to buy the cars there is jus tno way I can pay the money to buy a set of locos too. Since i already have a set of alcos and a set fo F3's i figured maybe id just get another set and turn two swets into one full powered set.

Stan, What specifically in that 2012 post was relevant to running multiple slave boards from one Master?  G

Matt,

Since i already have a set of alcos and a set fo F3's i figured maybe id just get another set and turn two swets into one full powered set.

In that case, why not just run the two sets (4 powered engines) as a lashup?

Or run your A-B-A and a geep or any other diesel with two motors like the real railroads do.  Just a thought.  Thank you for answering my question.

In one post Kerrigan asks:

 

"I'm trying to find out if one Proto2 upgrade Master Board in a powered A unit can power two Proto2 upgrade slave boards in two powered B units..."

 

Later, he posts a response from an MTH Tech (the link takes you to the specific post):

 

"...Unfortunately he has indicated that MTH does not have Y cables to support A master with 2 B slave units. MTH has tried this type of set up but it was unsuccessful..."

It's more work, but if you really want a powered ABBA configuration, you might want to consider doing a master-slave setup with each AB pair, then consist the AB sets into an ABBA. This gives you more flexibility as you can run each AB set as separate locomotives. No signal loss. No overloads. More power.

Matt, that is exactly what i am going to do. Barry, I think it will not look as good with A-A-A-A Alco Pa set. A-B-A or A-B-B-A will look much better and be correct. I dont think I will need more than 3 powered units  but this way I will have an extra just in case

Now that is a cool idea!

I the referenced thread appears the following"

---

Andy Edleman and Dave Krebiehl have both said the next batch of upgrade kits will be PS3.  However, they have also said the PS3's won't be coming until late 2012 or early 2013.

They were wildly optimistic!

 

My original thought was to take the slave guts out of an F unit and put it in an alco pa dummy b unit and run an ABA powered set but it just seemsxlike s better idea to convert 2 sets Ito on fully powered set

Matt

 

What you want to do has merit. If the engines were Williams units it would work as the six amp board word be able to slave six motors. The smart thing would be to run each AB unit as powered as suggested earlier. Another thing you could do, would be to install PS2 boards into each unit and run it as a lash up. This has several advantages. The big one is prototypical. I have seen pics with ABBA with one of the B units an Alco unit or the other way around Alco with a EMD B unit. Also if you want to do early Amtrack. You would be able to mix several roads in a lash up.  The lash up route eliminates the need for tethers. Either way I look forward to see the end result of what you want to do.

Matt - check your E-mail.

Suko, did Amtrak ever run Alcos?

RS 3s.