Protosound 3 Steam Upgrade Kits arriving in March!

@Mikado posted:

As an aside, We are working to create an addendum that illustrates the minor wiring changes required to use a Protosound 3/2 Stacker in a 4 motor application (such as a lead powered A with a PS2 board and trailing powered A with a PS2 slave board). (This addendum will also apply to any tubine with 4 motors.

What I’m saying is that if the factory installed PS2 5V or 3V board in the lead unit goes out, you can use the stacker to replace it AND keep the PS2 Slave board (no need to spend 2x the money to repair a n AA or ABA set with a bad lead powered A board.

We’ll hopefully have this completed around the time the boards begin shipping in March.

Thank you,

Mike

MTH Parts & Sales LLC

I've replaced a PS2 5V & PS2 3V boards in diesels that have a slave board in another unit with a PS32 board with no issue. Just load the correct chain and sound files and it's good to go. No wiring changes necessary. So for your average ABA diesel set a PS32 board is drop in.

That sounds really nice. On my early Berk, did it have puffing smoke initially? If not, will the new board give it that capability?

@c.sam posted:

That sounds really nice. On my early Berk, did it have puffing smoke initially? If not, will the new board give it that capability?

That locomotive, with PS2 5V, had puffing smoke, and a PS32 board will also have puffing smoke.

Only PS1 steam had continuous smoke. All PS2 and PS3 steam locomotives have synchronized puffing smoke.

@Mikado posted:

As an aside, We are working to create an addendum that illustrates the minor wiring changes required to use a Protosound 3/2 Stacker in a 4 motor application (such as a lead powered A with a PS2 board and trailing powered A with a PS2 slave board). (This addendum will also apply to any tubine with 4 motors.

What I’m saying is that if the factory installed PS2 5V or 3V board in the lead unit goes out, you can use the stacker to replace it AND keep the PS2 Slave board (no need to spend 2x the money to repair a n AA or ABA set with a bad lead powered A board.

We’ll hopefully have this completed around the time the boards begin shipping in March.

Thank you,

Mike

MTH Parts & Sales LLC

Mike to be clearer?  Is this a PS-32 running four motors alone?  Was always told this was a no no for PS-2 and 3.  Or just the mod to use the 2 pin connector on stacker to drive the slave board motor input?  G

George,

the Stacker is capable of handling two motors. For a 4 motor application you will need a PS3 slave board in conjunction wigh the Stacker. Yes, the 2-pin connector (that I wish to make the adendum for) identifies the forward & reverse directions (for tje slave board).

Good question!

Thank you,

Mike

Mike, Got it, but correction.  When using the stacker board to repair a PS-2 5V or 3V you do not need a PS-3 Slave board.  That won't work.  The Stacker can drive the PS-2 slave fine.  No changes required.

PS-3 diesel to PS-3 Slave is different and sends data to the PS-3 slave to operate all features in the slave.  PS-3 slave also has a tach motor, which PS-2s do not.

Bottom line is a stacker can repair any PS-2 engine that uses a slave board including some of the turbines that had both boards in a 4 motor A unit. G

Any word on the boards?  Have they available yet? I have a dead PRR H10 2-8-0 20-3055-1 in need of an upgrade.

@Scott R posted:

Any word on the boards?  Have they available yet? I have a dead PRR H10 2-8-0 20-3055-1 in need of an upgrade.

If they have PS/3 steam kits, the separate sale PS32 boards can't be far behind, they already have the 5V connector stacker boards.

Hey all,

the stackers & PS3 steam upgrade kits will likely start shipping this week. (They’ve been in our hands for 4 weeks now) just been programming & testing them prior to selling them. If you “wish listed” any of the stackers or steam upgrade kits you will be getting a notification some time this week!

Thank you,

Mike

Would the PS3 upgrade kit be appropriate for upgrading an older 3rd Rail engine to PS3?

I am wondering if Diesel boards will also be available.

@Magicland posted:

Would the PS3 upgrade kit be appropriate for upgrading an older 3rd Rail engine to PS3?

I upgraded a 3rd Rail 3751 to PS3. The engine works great. Understand that you will likely have to file an opening for the tether as well as modify the pocket on the engine to place the tether receiver. It has been awhile, so I don't recall the specifics but it would be easy to provide photos if you wish.

@Magicland posted:

Would the PS3 upgrade kit be appropriate for upgrading an older 3rd Rail engine to PS3?

What Scott M. replied is correct, and to add, the PS3 steam upgrade kits do not include a smoke unit. So if smoke is desired, pick an appropriate PS2/3 smoke unit available from mthpartsandsales.com to complete your installation, and make the install a lot easier with plug-n-play operation. You do not need to modify the internals of the smoke unit, you just need to figure out how to mount it. Subsequently, there’s a plethora of all kinds of smoke unit brackets available that could be modified for just about any application…….an example of a PS2/3 smoke unit below.

Pat

I just bend some aluminum sheet to make smoke unit mounts.

Just went to MTH and it seems all the PS boards are sold out. Is that the case ?  Might a new order be on the way any time soon ?                      j

That's a question for MTH Parts, send them an email.  You can put your name on the "wish list" and you'll get an email when they're available.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I just bend some aluminum sheet to make smoke unit mounts.

I stole your idea for the most original smoke unit mount. One strategically placed spring pushing the smoke unit against the top of the boiler.  I had used a piece of polypropylene foam which works ok but takes up a lot more space than the spring. And, you have to make sure it does not contact the hot part of the smoke unit. The spring is now my standard way for mounting the S.U. in brass steamers.          Thank you !                       j

Yep, for brass I haven't come up with a better idea that's easier to implement.  I never want to build anything that you can't take the smoke unit out for maintenance, it's not if, it's when it needs it!

For diecast, most of the time I try to mount the smoke unit on the chassis and have a brass stack extension.  This allows me to wire it with no connectors between the chassis and shell.

@JohnActon posted:

Just went to MTH and it seems all the PS boards are sold out. Is that the case ?  Might a new order be on the way any time soon ?                      j

@Mikado posted:

Hey all,

the stackers & PS3 steam upgrade kits will likely start shippingthis week. (They’ve been in our hands for 4 weeks now) just been programming & testing them prior to selling them. If you “wish listed” any of the stackers or steam upgrade kits you will be getting a notification some time this week!

Thank you,

Mike

I case you haven't figured it out- Mikado is Mike from MTH parts. Pretty simple explanation- as of this moment in time3/19/2023 6:01PM EST, yes, they are not showing available yet because they are still in the process of programming all those boards. So good news, they are here in the US, and when MTH parts and sales is ready for us to buy them- then they will "flip the switch" and they will show available.

So as recommended- put yourself on a "wish list" email reply for the boards and upgrade kits you want, and when they come in stock, then you would get an email.

#1 no, you didn't miss "the batch" we are ALL still waiting.

#2 don't email them bugging them- taking away from other customer support and them getting the boards ready

Hey guys,

just a heads up about the stackers and ps3 steam upgrade kits. Some of these will be entered into inventory tomorrow. Please understand that we will be adding these to inventory in batches. So if you go to order them and it says “out of stock” please don’t panic. More will be added to inventory the next day. As you likely know by now, we do our best to ship our orders as soon as they arrive, please don’t overwhelm our mailbox with panic stricken emails, as this will only delay getting the orders shipped.

I also want  to point out that these boards have “SD70 test code” installed, so please remember to “FLASH” the chain code file before loading the sound file for every indtallation. (Unless you choose “programming fee” and enter the product number of the engine you would like us to program it for) in the shopping cart.

The document explaining how this works is attached to the first post of this thread.

Game On!

Thank you,

Mike

MTh Parts & Sales

some of the boards are showing as in stock (5v stacker) if you search by keyword "stacker" under https://www.mthpartsandsales.c...h/?type=serviceparts

or search by the 5v unprogrammed SKU above

I just ordered a few

Just a heads up! We now have 50-1911 Protosound 3.0 Steam Upgrade Kits are in stock & ready to ship!

Thank you,
Mike
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

I received my order, now just have to find the time to open up the silver bullet! Hopefully I can then run it on DCC.

@Mikado posted:

Just a heads up! We now have 50-1911 Protosound 3.0 Steam Upgrade Kits are in stock & ready to ship!

Thank you,
Mike
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

You just made many of us very, VERY Happy!

Thanks for your diligence.

@Darrell posted:

I received my order, now just have to find the time to open up the silver bullet! Hopefully I can then run it on DCC.

I may know someone who would be interested in the old PS2 board from that engine if you are willing to let it go.

@H1000 posted:

I may know someone who would be interested in the old PS2 board from that engine if you are willing to let it go.

I have 2 other projects all ready on the workbench, I might be able to move this one up though. Email me.

@Darrell posted:

I received my order, now just have to find the time to open up the silver bullet! Hopefully I can then run it on DCC.

Wondering how well that works. While yes, PS3 (thus stacker PS3/2) accepts DCC, via a mode switch- catch22 the communications to the operating Coors cars is DCS from the engine to the cars. So for it to work, the engine must receive DCC  PFA command, and then transmit the DCS PFA open doors and smoke unit commands and the cars have to receive it- all not being interfered by the DCC present on the track.

Good luck and fingers crossed.

@Vernon Barry posted:

Wondering how well that works. While yes, PS3 (thus stacker PS3/2) accepts DCC, via a mode switch- catch22 the communications to the operating Coors cars is DCS from the engine to the cars. So for it to work, the engine must receive DCC  PFA command, and then transmit the DCS PFA open doors and smoke unit commands and the cars have to receive it- all not being interfered by the DCC present on the track.

Good luck and fingers crossed.

I'm thinking only engine commands will work, pretty sure DCC and DCS would interfere with each other from all I have read.

After testing, locomotive runs great under DCS and DCC, as long as none of the reefers are on the track!

The cars are only DCS, if placed on DCC they engage the DCC command station/booster safety circuit and shut down the power immediately. They do however work perfectly under DCS.

Clearly, the Coors Silver Bullet Train will never run DCC, it was developed long before the DCC/DCS PS/3 boards.

@Mikado posted:

MTH Parts & Sales is expecting a restock of the Protosound 3 Steam Upgrade Kits in mid-March 2023. In addition to the upgrade kits we will also be receiving separate sale Protosound 3/2 Stacker Boards in both 5V and 3V variations.

In preparation for the delivery of these printed circuit boards we have pulled together a couple documents to help everyone understand what and where the Stacker boards can be used. For instance, the Protosound 3/2 Stacker 5V board can be used to replace any factory installed Protosound 2 5V circuit board and still retain all its original features. The same can be said for the Protosound 3/2 Stacker 3V board (with the exception of 3 locomotives). Attached below is the educational document we compiled which also includes the DCS Consumer Loader Instructions. Two documents that identify whether a model was delivered with Protosound 2-5 Volt or Protosound 2-3 Volt electronics.

If you are interested in obtaining any of these items we encourage you to use our "Wish List" feature within the site (find the item you want that is marked "out of stock, click on the add to cart button and enter your email address to be notified when it is put away and ready for sale/shipping).

The product numbers of the items arriving in March are as follows;

50-1911 Protosound 3 Steam Upgrade Kit
AE10000355V Protosound 3/2 Stacker - 5 Volt
AE10000353V Protosound 3/2 Stacker - 3 Volt

You can find these parts by searching our part inventory here

For any questions please feel free to email us at info@mthpartsandsales.com

Thank you,
Mike Reagan
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

Hi Mike. Would you happen to have the chain file lists in an Excel Sheet?

Hi all,

Just a head’s up that we now have the 3V stackers in the system available for purchase. The part number is;

AE10000353V Protosound 3/2 Stacker - 3 Volt

To see what products this works for please reference the document at the beginning of this thread.

Thank you,

Mike

MTH Parts & Sales LLC

@Mikado posted:

Just a heads up! We now have 50-1911 Protosound 3.0 Steam Upgrade Kits are in stock & ready to ship!

Thank you,
Mike
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

So I had this one my wish list and received no notification. Is it broken?

@Mikado posted:

Just a heads up! We now have 50-1911 Protosound 3.0 Steam Upgrade Kits are in stock & ready to ship!

Thank you,
Mike
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

Hey @Mikado...

Do you have an ETA you're willing to share re. the 50-1912 Diesel Upgrade kits?

Hi Guys,

We should be receiving the Diesel upgrade kits & diesel boards in July / August this year.

Thank you,
Mike Reagan
MTH Parts & Sales LLC

Shawn,

Please check your spam folder for the notification regarding the steam kits being available. Thus far we have not seen any issues with the wishlist functionality. Unless of course you entered your email address incorrectly.

Thank you,
Mike

Being in IT I checked sapm before I posted do know the email address it would come in from so I can check my spam assasin rules on the domain level. Sometimes I have to allow list some things because I get some real garbage.