PS 1 question

You can not reprogram a PS-1 chip.  I don't think MTH would do it either.  You can buy a new chip from them pre-programmed for your locomotive.

But more importantly, are you sure you are correctly operating to get the squealing break sound.  There are only very specific situations that will make the sound play.  First I would do a Feature 18 reset, this will take it back to factory programming.  This should make Feature 28 (FYS) and 45 (Squealing breaks) active.  Now it will activate any time track voltage is above 14 volts and you reduce it to under 8 volts.  This is the only way it'll play, you must be above 14V and reduce it to under 8V.  The other way is if you have more then 14V on the track and you flick the whistle button half way down.  If you do it right it will play the sound right then.  I have never gotten a PS-1 loco to play the sound that way, probably a limitation in the transformers I use.

oh, yes, thanks for the response, I've worked feature 18 and 45 (9 clanks) many times with no success.  I have a 50-50 mix several of PS1 and PS2 engines all going fine with the feature but the coal turbine has been a bugger.  At times they'll go off  while in normal motion making no sense.  Lately its been dead, dead.  But I may ask Midge at MTH what she'd do for me in $$$.  Thanks very much for the info.   I can easily live without the feature.  All other features are perfect.

o gauger

You can get a new chip programmed for your locomotive, I believe the cost is $30.

thanks much, I already have a query to her!!!

o gauger

Hey gunrunnerjohn!!  Tried your alternate method!  1/2 whistle, it works 100% of the time off of my KW!

o gauger

The whistle control on PW transformers is a two-stage affair.  With a small deflection, it puts more DC on the track to pick the relay, then the second contact parallels the rectifier with a resistor to provide more current for the whistle motor, but it drops the DC to less than a volt.  With minimal loading on the track, it's frequently not possible to get a modern electronic whistle to work reliably with the PW transformers, the usual fix is a lighted passenger car or two.

One last thought on this matter, obviously the squealing sounds are in there but varying the voltage does not produce the effect.    My KW does produce the effect in all my other PS 1.0 engines.  I am thinking the sound chip is good and the problem is in the the sound board not signaling the chip to turn "ON" when the voltage is varied.  What is your opinion on this?  Thanks for all your input, I've been a bunch of trouble on a more minor problem.  By the way I did just purchase some minor postwar parts from your place a bit back.

o gauger

I'm not entirely sure why you don't get the flange squeal, if the option is set, that's all I'd do with PS/1.

thank you for everything

o gauger