Hi,
I have two original Rev. TIU's, i.e. no Rev label.
Should I be concerned with the lack of "safety" electronics compared to the new revisions?
Although, I have had no issues over the years, my first MTH loco went kaput within 5 minutes on the track brand new and out of the box.
Should I play it safe and buy the newest Rev?
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The only safety deficiency is the lack of internal 20amp fuse to protect the TIU. As long as you have a good power source with electronic breaker the TIU is not the cause of your engine failure. What MTH engine went bad? Was this an older but new or brand new PS-3? How did it fail? G
My brand new MTH LIRR PS3 MU (3-20173).
I bought it on 8/13/2014 about 5 weeks ago, and put it on the track for the first time Saturday.
At first, it would go maybe 1 or 2 10" track lengths, then stop and make high speed wheel(?)/gear(?), motor(?) noise from the front truck.
A well respected forum member told me to re-seat the 8-pin connector, which I did, and now although the loco still gets lights, it refuses to be added to the TIU, and is listed as inactive, and does not start up.
I noticed when I removed the shell, horrible quality control:
1) system board only screwed in on one end, and the other end laying on top of speaker.
2) Plastic system board frame only had the board snapped in on one side.
3) System board and plastic frame off center to one side, how the assembly line got the shell on with it like this without damaging something is beyond me, well actually they probably did.
4) Bad front truck wire connection
5) Mis-aligned screw holes for thus plastic board frame do to a mis-aligned silver metal piece with bracket on the system board
Here are some pics:
That connection to the truck looks very ugly, I agree with sending it back! Someone was clearly in there after the fact!
Chipset. I got the PRR MU, and found quality poor. Headlight on the combo car was on the wrong end; should have been on baggage section end. It was not a misassembly, because cables were st up for it.
Went back twice for wheels spinning. PS3 board was flopping around. Somehow the loco locked itself in reverse and would take off full speed in reverse immediately upon power up.
I don't know how many backalley manufacturers MTH uses in China, but this one is terrible.
I still use 2 initial issues TIUs with external breakers. IMHO, 20-amps is not adequate protection.
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