Operating MTH PS-1 F-3 with No Battery/BCR: What is the Risk??

You can still wreck the locomotive.  The battery isn't just for sounds, its for the reverse board too.  When one of these PS-1 locomotives "dies" due to a low/dead battery, the whole things goes kaput.  I know because I have a nice NYC Dreyfuss Hudson that does nothing but light up because I ran it with a low battery.  In my research I did find a couple of places that would upgrade it to PS-2, TMCC, or just plain conventional, all for a price.  But if you value the unit and don't want it to become a paperweight, don't run it without a battery.

I will pull just the speaker wires then.  Annoying what presently happens.  Some sound then nothing.  Probably the board going bad, but such is life.

And for the record, the engine is an MTH prototype.  So with this I now have the MTH Prototype Train.  Engine + cars - from front to back - are prototypes.

Thanks!

It is not recommended to run a PS1 locomotive without a good and charged battery.

Sinclair, why don't you get the reset kit ($15-$25) and get your paperweight

funtional again. Or get a MTH service shop to do iit for you.

Al

Running an MTH PS1 with a dead battery will scramble the board when you power it down and it must be re-programed before you can use it again. MTH made an inexpensive programing kit (50-1023) and I think it is still available.

John, I just replaced the QSI boards in a PS1 locomotive with a Williams reversing board and sound board.  No battery.  Runs as a conventional (traditional) locomotive now, with horn and bell operational from the transformer buttons.  Sequences F-N-R-N-F.  I'm really excited how easy this was to do (good instructions came with the Williams reversing board) and how successful the result is.  No more annoying PS1.   These boards are usually available on the infamous internet auction site, or maybe at your LHS.

also available here

Wanna' sell the PS/1 boards?

gunrunner, email sent.

I have a number of MTH locos I bought dead.....knowing I'd just add the WbB DCU and it would run like a top. I don't have a bunch of PS=1 locos....but it seems like I'll be buying more WbB boards soon.....

Hojack - great idea.  Thank you very much.

AMCDave - thank you also for the endorsement of the swap process.

Gunrunner John - glad I could open the door on a potential PS-1 board transaction.  Perhaps I should charge a 'finders fee' for that!    Just kidding - you've been too generous already with me.  Hope you get the PS-1 board, though...

It's the deselect issue, not the normal scrambled board.  I have a post here about it.  My local MTH store was less than helpful to put it nicely.  If it had been my only MTH locomotive or experience of a LHS, I would of sworn off MTH forever.  I've moved recently, and now have had a chance to get everything back out so I'm going to be trying to bring it to life again.

Guys,  the reset kit that MTH sells is for only one reason.  That reason is the deselect 3 clanks of death.  Find a MTH tech and if he has been around for a while and been to the early days MTH school, he will have the other 3 chips that were issued to Tech guys to fix other problems on Protosounds boards.  I have found most of these boards are a simple fix. 

Do not try to start a Protosounds locomotive that has been sitting without a new battery or BCR.  If you do so, you will be going into your wallet if you are lucky enough to find someone who knows these boards.  If anyone tells you that it can be done, please do not listen.

Harbor Freight has Nickel Metal Hydride batteries of the proper vvoltage and they work fine. Cost is 6 to 7 bucks. Check the voltage on the package or battery before buying to get the proper voltage. Need 8.4 v, NOT 7.2 volts.

John,

I have a set on my bench and will be in touch over the week end. Busy schedule today. Hugh