MTH PS2 install into USA Trains GP38-2

Maybe a dumb question 'cause I'm not a G-scaler.  But I didn't think USA Trains had flywheels or coasting- they seem to stop cold when power is cut.  So how did you get a tach signal for the PS2 speed control sensor?

Testament to the robustness of the PS2 board..extra weight and current load..looking forward to some long distance results.

Do you think PS2 electronics will work well with your custom build GE six axle?

willygee posted:

Testament to the robustness of the PS2 board..extra weight and current load..looking forward to some long distance results.

Do you think PS2 electronics will work well with your custom build GE six axle?

butttt .........I already put PS3 inside it? Do you want me to yank it out??? 

I think the PS3 diesel board handles more motor current than the stock PS2 diesel. There was a beefed up PS2 diesel version for one gauge. You reminded me that I forgot to beef up the board! and I have the parts. Man, I'm getting old...

Ted S posted:

Maybe a dumb question 'cause I'm not a G-scaler.  But I didn't think USA Trains had flywheels or coasting- they seem to stop cold when power is cut.  So how did you get a tach signal for the PS2 speed control sensor?

USA Trains has flywheels in some of their diesel engines ( w/ six axles ). You have to add one for four axle units.

I'm still waiting for MTH to release a new board that doesn't need a tach! ( they talked about it for some time now).

I don't know if the smaller (MTH) gauges use tachs?

Yes- a requirement for the PS2 or PS3 upgrade in O, S, and Standard Gauge is a flywheel, or some kind of rotating surface that can accommodate a strip with alternating black-and-white stripes.  That's why I was curious about your Geep.  (I messed with a USA Trains switcher once when they first came out, and I didn't recall it coasting much.)  Not sure what MTH does in HO, but I doubt those would have the current capacity for a G-scale motor.

Electric Rail Road makes upgrade boards which use Back-EMF and don't require a flywheel.  But those are for Lionel TMCC and not MTH's DCS.

Engineer-Joe posted:

I've had this engine laying around for a few years now. It had a Phoenix sound board inside. I put in a spare PS2 board set and swapped out the main headlights to LEDs. I left the rest of the lighting stock for now and it's controlled underneath by the switch. I also will swap out the smoke units if she runs well down the road.

 I had this engine on the bench years ago for bad gears and had installed much larger NWSL wheel sets for better looks. It has just sat here and whenever a spare board came along, it went into something else. Finally she gets her turn! 

 

We'll see just how long she lasts. I hate these gears. The couplers were just slapped on for now to test her out. I hate large off set couplers too!

Nice work. I know others have done this as well and live and die by it, especially using the PS3 board. I love that B&O unit and have been searching for one for a while now.

Thanks for posting!

Dave

I'm still impressed with that shop built locomotive