Protocoupler availability

To be fair I too had trouble finding via keyword, and then I figured it out using a parts breakdown for an engine.

https://www.mthpartsandsales.com/shop/search

So search for keyword PROTO-COUPLER

and then filter with PS 2 & PS 3

Long and short are both showing up and available

Another way to find

PS3 common steam electronic parts listing https://www.mthpartsandsales.c...lists/183?type=lists

PS2 common steam electronic parts listing https://www.mthpartsandsales.c...lists/131?type=lists

Keep those 2 shortcuts handy.

Or, is there an inexpensive way to get the PS1 couplers to remotely fire from the PS2 board? Like has anyone created a little ready to go circuit with a capacitor? Can I somehow steal the CD circuit from the end of the PS1 board and trigger it from PS2? It's right at the end and can be (to my knowledge) cut off of the PS1 board cleanly.

While the capacitive discharge of a PS1 board is kind of cool, IMO not very practcal way of implementing.

Also, FYI- keep your PS1 couplers because they ARE compatible with Lionel TMCC upgrades like ERR retrofits. They are the correct impedance and match a Lionel for typical TRIAC fired track voltage just like the typical Lionel coupler.

That said, PS1 couplers will then not fire correctly from a PS2 or PS3 board because those boards output a lower voltage.

Hence why a PS2/PS3 coupler is the same part number but is very different and must be identified compared to a PS1.

Again, using a PS2/PS3 coupler with say an ERR upgrade or in a typical Lionel would result in extrmely high current draw potentially damaging the ERR upgrade or Lionel control boards. However, a PS1 coupler is ideal and perfectly compatible electrically.

Thanks guys!

Any tips on proper keywords for the wiring harness?

Seems like MTH could benefit from a keyword substitute that will recognize "protocoupler" or "proto coupler" as "proto-coupler" with the hyphen instead of relying on the consumer to know that the keyword search requires a hyphen.

Here is a useful one, not a complete harness but PS2 3V and the important parts BC0000250

And then the important 7 pin power into PS2 3V and tach BC2104003

5 pin PS2 3V motor harness

Still need a 4 pin for smoke, out of stock

most installs don't use the 8 pin aux lighting connector on PS2, but here it is for reference.

I feel your pain and not ideal. Most of my retrofits came from cheap PS2 3V 2-8-0 engines and matching tenders as takeouts. Or was finding every once in a blue moon cheap rugged rails PS2 3V diesels and parting them out.