MTH Santa Fe FT Last Days?

Use only a MTH battery.   It’s possible you could blow the board with any other battery

Vinny26 posted:

Use only a MTH battery.   It’s possible you could blow the board with any other battery

It could be but this is the battery that my dealers sells and puts in all of the 5v engines he sells and services. Would an MTH green battery fix it and hold a charge? 

A BCR would be better... no need to worry about a battery dying.

mlavender480 posted:

A BCR would be better... no need to worry about a battery dying.

That's what I'd probably spend my money on. Or would it be better just to upgrade it to PS3?

A BCR is a lot cheaper than a PS3 upgrade.  Depends on what you want.

mlavender480 posted:

A BCR is a lot cheaper than a PS3 upgrade.  Depends on what you want.

Would the BCR fix the problem or is the board shot? If the BCR would in fact work, then I'd go with that. If not then I really don't have a choice. 

If the battery will not charge, a BCR will not charge either.

Dave Zucal posted:

If the battery will not charge, a BCR will not charge either.

That's what I figured. So now what do I do? 

That's a 5-volt board.  These are at or past their average lifespan.  I would insert FOR THIS TEST ONLY a 9-volt alkaline and see what happens.  If it works, then I'd get a new 8.4-volt rechargeable battery.  I would also use a voltmeter to check the charging circuit, and check the battery/chargeport/board plug wiring with an ohmmeter, after unplugging it. Given the life expectancy of a 5-volt board, I wouldn't invest in a BCR.

Note that you have 4 motors, and I don't believe that a PS3 has the ability to control a slave board.

There is available a board to replace 5-volt boards.  I suggest you contact someone like GGG to determine if one would work in your loco.

RJR posted:

That's a 5-volt board.  These are at or past their average lifespan.  I would insert FOR THIS TEST ONLY a 9-volt alkaline and see what happens.  If it works, then I'd get a new 8.4-volt rechargeable battery.  I would also use a voltmeter to check the charging circuit, and check the battery/chargeport/board plug wiring with an ohmmeter, after unplugging it. Given the life expectancy of a 5-volt board, I wouldn't invest in a BCR.

Note that you have 4 motors, and I don't believe that a PS3 has the ability to control a slave board.

There is available a board to replace 5-volt boards.  I suggest you contact someone like GGG to determine if one would work in your loco.

I'll try that. And by PS3, I mean the PS32 board. 

Make sure harness is good.  If bad, that can be the problem.  Make sure 2 pin battery is connected to the board.  After that, usually board replacement. G

GGG posted:

Make sure harness is good.  If bad, that can be the problem.  Make sure 2 pin battery is connected to the board.  After that, usually board replacement. G

Thanks. I'll check it out. 

Build your own bcr for about $8 and be done with batteries for good.

Laidoffsick posted:

Build your own bcr for about $8 and be done with batteries for good.

What do you use? I'd look into this for sure. 

Mr. Laidoffsick, can you give s a parts list and schematic please.

John

All the talk about different battery alternatives is probably not productive.  If the date on that battery is to be believed, and it works in another locomotive, I suspect the charging circuit has died.

The PS32 board for 5V works with the slave board.