MTH 20-5548-1 PS2 GG1 - battery ????

Could it actually be a Proto-Sound 3 locomotive where the capacitor (which is what a BCR is) is built into the Mother Board? Or, possibly, it was a PS 2 with a PS# upgrade kit installed.

@Randy Harrison posted:

Could it actually be a Proto-Sound 3 locomotive where the capacitor (which is what a BCR is) is built into the Mother Board? Or, possibly, it was a PS 2 with a PS# upgrade kit installed.

NO, that is a DCRU- reverse unit only, with digital horn.

That was the lowest tier or offering of that model series. It's NOT PS1, there is no battery.

@Randy Harrison posted:

Could it actually be a Proto-Sound 3 locomotive where the capacitor (which is what a BCR is) is built into the Mother Board? Or, possibly, it was a PS 2 with a PS# upgrade kit installed.

Randy, I'm really hoping that it was upgraded and that the picture would be able to confirm it with someone before I run it. 

@SteveC posted:

Advice appreciated; i want to confirm before I run it.

I purchased a used PS2 locomotive that had in the description "may need new battery".  I knew having other PS2 engines I should replace with a BCR and ordered one with the shipment.

I opened the chassis to replace the battery to discover there was no battery to replace and there is a board in the area that would normally hold a battery.  (see image)

Does this mean I do not need a battery because it was upgraded? Or does it mean that it is not a PS2 locomotive after all?

Again, no, this is a DCRU (DC Reverse Unit) only by QSI- but in the GG1, it was a special split board with wiring between the relays and the electronic reverse section. Then plugged into that on top- that is the limited Digital horn board that MTH QSI offered. it is not upgraded in any way and does not have a battery for that system.

Again, this is a conventional only loco, with digital sound for a horn.

@Vernon Barry posted:

That was the lowest tier or offering of that model series. It's NOT PS1, there is no battery.

... and being a DCRU, there is definitely no PS2 present either, whether upgrade or otherwise, hence there is no need for a battery.

Mike

@Vernon Barry posted:

NO, that is a DCRU- reverse unit only, with digital horn.

That was the lowest tier or offering of that model series. It's NOT PS1, there is no bat

Thanks for the quick responses. 

Also, NO, that is not the correct product number for what you have. Again no, this Premier PS2 model number is not even the correct item to what you have https://mthtrains.com/20-5548-1. I don't know if someone chassis swapped or shell swapped or what happened, a search for the cab number does say 4913 there were some PS2 models- but that frame was clearly not PS2.

Again, that frame was never touched, is an early version where QSI DCRU and Digital horn was even offered- but if someone sold it to you or represented it as being PS2, that's a huge mistake.

The only Railking sized GG1 with road number 4913 listed on MTH website is 30-5118-1 PS3

I certainly don’t know what the innards of a PS3 looks like, so maybe this is a very early, Korea made product from the mid 90s, and not listed on the MTH website.

I may have it wrong but there are no tach stripes on either motor flywheel. Maybe that's not a PS2. Have you run it yet with DCS?

@Vernon Barry posted:

Also, NO, that is not the correct product number for what you have. Again no, this Premier PS2 model number is not even the correct item to what you have https://mthtrains.com/20-5548-1. I don't know if someone chassis swapped or shell swapped or what happened, a search for the cab number does say 4913 there were some PS2 models- but that frame was clearly not PS2.

Again, that frame was never touched, is an early version where QSI DCRU and Digital horn was even offered- but if someone sold it to you or represented it as being PS2, that's a huge mistake.

I did purchase from a reputable train outlet (online) and just now requested a refund and return authorization.

Thank you everyone for help. 

@Scott J posted:

I may have it wrong but there are no tach stripes on either motor flywheel. Maybe that's not a PS2. Have you run it yet with DCS?

Scott, thanks for you help. I'm not going to take a chance and have something go wrong and not be able to return it.  All replies point to being basic MTH loco.