PS/3 led circuit. need help

• PS3 is set up for LEDs already. No need for a resistor.

Did this come out of a steam engine? Is this a steam upgrade kit?

The answer may change.

This PS/3 board came out of an 0-gauge diesel and installed in one of my scratch locos, a 1:32 P-42.  I thought that this was the case as it worked for a while, but I started thinking that I might have wired it wrong.  One of the ditchlights failed and now I am trying to fix it.  Thank you for the answer. Bob.

if you can take your ps 3 board to a asc mth tech he or she can test the board for you ! ps 3 diesel boards are different and not used for steam engines was the board from a diesel ps3 kit?

This PS/3 board came out of a diesel.  Engineer Joe just told me the answer and the led lamp does not require a resistor, so I will replace the lamp, thank you, Bob.

I would take Alan's advise.  The problem could also be one of the wires on the "dead" ditch light is not properly seated in the connector that attaches to the board.  If you are not familiar with working with thin wires on small connectors do not try it.  

bruce

machiningfool posted:

 There is an aux. board that the wires come from the PS/3 main circuit board and then the wires go from there to the leds..  Please tell me how this circuit  is wired, Thanks, Robert Brown.l

machiningfool posted:

This PS/3 board came out of an 0-gauge diesel 

That board then, should only be a jumper for attaching the board's  wires to the lights. All the separate light wires go to it with one common wire. Provides  convenient receptacles for each removable plug to the LEDs.

Thanks Joe, you have been very helpful, I think you have solved the problem.  This is the fourth MTH PS board that I have installed, just didn't know if the led circuit to the led needed a resistor, it's been awhile, don't think I need an authorized technician for this Alan, but thanks for your suggestion. Bob.

This is the P42 that this led is going in, battery power 1:32 scale.  You remember this Joe, finally finished. Bob.

bruce benzie posted:

I would take Alan's advise.  The problem could also be one of the wires on the "dead" ditch light is not properly seated in the connector that attaches to the board.  If you are not familiar with working with thin wires on small connectors do not try it.  

bruce

Why shouldn't he try it. We have to learn sometime!

Thanks Shawn, after all, what could go wrong?  If all goes wrong, I will just have to re- install, and rewire the whole system, not like I haven't done before. Bob.

machiningfool posted:

This is the P42 that this led is going in, battery power 1:32 scale.  You remember this Joe, finally finished. Bob.

 Yes I remember them. For those who don't, they are magnificent builds in 1/32 scale.

I have LEDs that have lasted for years in these. So I am interested in how they failed. 

Engineer Joe, I think that I might have found my problem, but I need your help.  These two pictures are of the aux. brd. and I might have wired them wrong.  Please tell me about the plug on the right, the D/LN/L plug.  Are  both of the Ditch Lights originate from this one plug?, or does one of the ditch lights involve the Mars light plug?  I involved the Mars light  plug, that might have been my mistake.  Bob.

I think it's a generic labeled board for many apps. So you could wire it any way you wish. It's just a jump off point. Obviously, it's what wires are coming from the board that matters here.

I'll be back. That's tuff for me to answer without going down to look at mine! My memory ain't what it should be! 

Thanks for helping Joe, I have another 0 gauge ps3 engine that I am about to take apart, maybe that will give me a hint also, Bob.

One thing I have found is that MTH has changed their PS3 wiring over the years on some models. That makes it difficult for us here.

I believe that you should trace the wires back to the main plug.

Wire coming from pin #5 (brown?) should be ditch light +

Wire coming from #39 ( black?) should be the other ditch light's +

return (-) should go to pins 38 &/or 40 (purple wire?)

So you need to figure out the pin locations. Looking down on the plug with the DCC/DCS switch wire to the top, odd # pins on the left, even # pins on the right.

machiningfool posted:

That pinched wire might be a problem here too!

Thanks Joe, I will check out that pinched wire and I took the 0 gauge diesel apart and in fact, the ditch lights involve the Mars light socket and the ditch light socket, so at least I got that right.  I will trace the wires and let you know. Bob.

I think that I found the problem Joe.  When I pulled the plugs from the aux. board, the pins came with it, means solder joints were non existant. I will repair and let you know, Bob.

Nice catch!

Joe, the real culprit here was an in properly soldered aux. light board.  There is no way that 4 pins would have pulled out when removing the plugs, so I don't think that they were soldered correctly in the first place. The ditch lights work properly now and I want to thank you for your help and helping me recall the pin numbers and wires, it has been quite a while since I installed this board, so, thanks again Joe. Bob.

It is my pleasure always to be of any help. You have helped me plenty. My memory comes and goes so whenever I look at something, I have to refresh my memory to get started.

 I put LEDs into some of my pass cars and want to do more. I should have kept notes or pictures as now I've forgotten. I have to look for my old posts here to find out what I did.

 Now the forum manager here is prompting me to get building (tall city buildings). My diesel boss Matt, wants to see me finish my 2 scratch builds. Like I don't have a long enough to do list!

I know what you mean.  I have so many projects and switch back and forth with them, that sometimes when I go back to a previous project, I have to learn all over.  You remember my  viaduct rr., well, I finished the concrete work and am now laying track. I also have 4 lengths of track that comes into the house for storage and then I can run them out to the layout. Bob. 

WOW!!!

Thanks Joe, I expect to be up and running in about 2 1/2 months after working 2 1/2 years.  I just laid 200 ft. inside and will be laying 300 ft. outside. Thanks again Joe for all of your help. Bob.  

Late to this party, but you can use the PS-3 Diesel Upgrade instruction to track the wires from the 40 pin.  Yes, those aux board pins are notorious for cracking, and sometimes the solder joint under heat shrink on normal connectors.  So continuity check or swapping LED to help isolate works.  Also, those IDs on the aux board are generic in nature, and different engines can use them differently. SO tracing wires back to the 40 pin is important or make notes on how they were used from the engine you took them from.  G

Thank you for your input.  I happened to have an extra aux. light board in good shape, so I just soldered the proper wires back and it worked.  So, everything is fine now. Thanks again, Bob.