N&W A & Y PS1 upgrade to PS2 or PS3

NO difference in kit based on what you're upgrading from.  PS2 upgrade kits are hard to find.  I personally am not sold on the idea that PS3 operates any better that PS2, but other do differ.  I don't see the battery as being a drawback, given that they last 8 years or more and given that one cal also use a suprcap.  If they sit idle for long periods, a PS2 with supercap or a PS3 is definitely the way to go.

I'll let GGG, the board repair expert, weigh in on the repairability of both.

Since you need Steam kits, those are out and around.  Both PS-2 and PS-32.  Your choice.  G

GGG, if his locos are PS1, he couldn't use the PS32 kit, could he?  I thought that was just to replace 5-votl boards.

Well, the PS32 kit is about to hit the market, I've been hearing June.

Dave,

I upgraded the 20-3036-1 to PS2 several years ago.  You can NOT install the tach readed at the 12 o'clock position on the motor.  That motor is huge and there is no clearance.  When looking at the motor from the rear, locate the tach reader at either the 4:30 or 7:30 o'clock position.  You have to modify the mounting screw hole in the attachment bracket to do this.  Believe me , it works fine.

as for the 20-3009-1 that is easy since that locomotive has two vertical motors.  Good luck, be careful, and enjoy.

bruce

It is both right now.  Think about it, there is nothing different from a PS-2 5V and 3V repair/upgrade other then the harness connector type.

I have a PS-32 Steam upgrade kit waiting for a customer.  It was released in limit numbers to finish the beta testing.  One of the dealers posted about it.

The only difference is the top board has the 3V connectors vice the 5V.

The diesel kit is still somewhat of a mystery.  Since diesel are not confined to a 10 pin tether, you could actually skip the daughter board and make it a pure PS-3 kit.  You just need to provide a generic 40 pin harness and LEDs.  Or they keep the PS-2 3V harness and just add the PS-32 board.

Steam PS-3 is a 2 board system, which is why I think the PS-32 kit had to remain PS-2 like.  Otherwise it would get much more complicated and possibly expensive.   

June is the target date.  I know MTH is out of the diesel upgrade kit harnesses, because I buy them as individuals.   I had to go to an alternate part.   G

Thanks to everyone - especially Bruce, on the issues that I will run into when I start converting.  Do the steam kits come with all the parts required, even if there are two motors?

Sounds like I should go PS1 to PS32, but need to wait until June.

Unless there is a sale on PS1 to PS2, which sounds like there is not.

Dave

I'd like to get the connector make and model for the PS/3 boards so I can modify harnesses, anyone have that info?

Yes, but you will need to retain the jumper wire from the first motor to the second.  The engine harness will have one set of motor leads coming off the PCB.  G

c h y a o s h i u n n JS-1253 and JS-2007 on the steam tender board.  1.00mm

1mm, man those are tiny little pins!