MTH 20-2505-1 engine

You won't scramble a PS3 3 volt system as easy. I would always say charge it first because a totally dead battery can mess things up. If it has the blue double AA for the PS3 3 volt, I would just charge it first and see if it holds before replacing it.

BTW, nice looking set that I never saw before.

Is your engine the Premier F-3 ABA set?

The PS/2 3 volt system is a good one. There is a battery pack inside the power unit that can be changed out if it is old or doesn't hold a charge. They can leak in certain conditions. 

I change out all battery packs in my PS/2 3v locomotives  with BCR2s. They are a replacement for the battery packs that need no further maintenance. It is an easy unplug/plug in replacement operation...

https://www.jandwelectronics.com

Tom

Joe, Tom,  Thanks,  I'm a little worried about the batteries because this is an over 10 year old engine.  Is it , safe to just pull it and replace and does what goes back in have to be charged prior to putting the engine on the track? I am nervious about  scrambling the board.  I'll look into the link for the BCR.

mark

If that board gets scrambled, a reset will usually fix anything like a board that gets locked in a direction. I would not run a board set with a known dead battery. That's even if the battery was brand new. They need to be charged. A low battery isn't like a dead battery.

 Whatever you decide, charge it first. Even the BCR2 needs charging although it's only for a minute or two. The do have a lifespan though that seems to be equal to the blue batteries. I tend to go with the stock batteries and others prefer the BCR2. I have had around 100 MTH board sets. I had an instance where the board set did not like the BCR2 so I installed a new battery. I did not know why this happened. Another poster/ MTH tech who I respect, suggested sticking with the batteries.

 I did not know that the caps in the BCR's have a limited life span and they don't like heat either. Although they can charge faster, I have a ton of engines that still perform perfectly with their stock batteries for well over a decade. Just running them a few times a year, at the least.

Tom

the set is premier F-3 ABA.

Okay. The Gold F-3 set. Nice!

I agree with Joe about using stock batteries. The MTH batteries are fine as long as they are not old.

I have found a few old ones in used equipment I have purchased that had slight leaks. It is more a matter of personal preference. I don't operate my engines very often, so they sit stored for long periods of time. I personally feel better not having a battery in my stuff when it sits for long periods of time. 

I suppose the BCR2s can fail over a long life, but they are viable replacements for battery packs. They just need a short charge time when you go to run the engine...

Tom

So, I'll get a new battery and install it.  What I don't get is charging. Does that have to be done before you put the engine on the track?  Sorry for that question but I have never run MTH engines yet although I have a few.  Only good old postwar.   

 Also when I heard about boards being scrambled I thought they were destroyed,  good to hear they can be reset.....

mark

Older boards were the ones that got their chips scrambled from running with a dead battery. So that legend follows along to this day. The newer PS2 3 volt boards are much better.

 You can charge the engine right on the tracks without running it. I prefer to charge the battery before hand. I have the MTH battery charger and plug it in the night before I run. That way the engine will perform correctly, and add to a DCS system without extra issues. A dead battery can wreak havoc.

I'll buy one of the MTH battery chargers when I get the battery.  Didn't know about that but will use!  Thanks