PS-1 Questions

XXXX-0 locomotives are not PS-1 locomotives, they were simple conventional locomotives.  XXXX-1 are the Protosound (1) locomotives.  I have also read on MTH's really old Protosound site that PS-1 locomotives could be run without the batteries, but I have yet to try it myself.  I do know a weak battery will mess it up.  IMHO, if you want it to be as simple as possible, put a new alkaline 9V battery in it, lock it in forward, and then remove the battery.  Now it'll run sans battery and will always go when it has power.  Otherwise you'll have to deal with staying under 10V to startup and letting it sit 30 seconds to charge the BCR.  There is no way around it if you keep the PS-1 electronics in it.  Which leads to the next option, to replace the electronics with a simple reverser board or upgrade it to TMCC or PS-3 electronics which don't need a battery to run.  But you'll loose the sounds it came with, but the TMCC has sound options and PS-3 comes with sounds.

Hi Sinclair...

Thanks for your reply and info.  I'll have to experiment until I find the best solution for these PS-1 engines.  I really want them to be easy to use for the younf grandkids.

Thanks again.

Hi Paul,  With the original "Protosound" and by the way there is NO official MTH Protosound-one (PS-1).  I have never seen a MTH box marked/identified as Protosound-one or PS-1.  This has become an incorrect term more of a Toy Train/Model Train colloquialism stemming form the "fix" by QSI for/to original early-mid 90's MTH Protosound engines.

The 10 VAC is ONLY for at  initial power-up.  MTH PS engines power-up in "Reset" mode.  The cycle is Reset-Forward- Neutral-Reverse-Neutral-Forward etc.  Until power is interrupted then powers up in Reset again. 

After each power-up Reset to Forward  cycle you can operate at any voltage level up t0 say 20/22VAC at least as long as will stay on track.

Ron