PS-3 upgrade tech on Long Island

Ed, if it hasn't failed, it's probably not worth the dollars to go from PS2 to PS3.  If he doesn't have a GOOD tech within driving distance, he might as well ship the loco to someone like GGG.

I agree that if it works leave well enough alone and don't do the upgrade.  But he still wants to get it upgraded.   Think I will try to talk to him about it again.  Maybe the actual cost of the upgrade will change his mind.

Thanks for the input.

Ed

If the only purpose is to get rid of the battery, advise him that a battery can be replaced with a supercap.  I did all my PS2 locos for <$7 each. 

I will ask him if that is the reason he wants 3.0.

I am interested in the super cap as I have 6 PS-2 and I would like to eliminate the battery.  Can you send me any info on what I need?

Thanks,

Ed

is it a ps2 3 volt board or ps 2 8,4 volt board a engine item number would help and I can give you a place to purchase the 3 volt or 8,4 volt super cap ok

Alan

ps send me an email and I can help

check out this web sight!

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com...-Volt-p/jwe-bcr1.htm

Alan

Ed, the supercap I use for the PS2s with 3-volt boards (all I now have) is a 2.5F 5-volt , Digikey # 589-1008-ND, at www.digikey.com.  About $5.25 each.  I connect this to the plug from an old battery, and use heat shrink tubing.  Picture of finished product attached.
I just plug in right into the battery socket

RJR,

Thanks for the great info.  I really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Ed

Make a note - this has been published numerous times before:

pull up MTH web site, go to service

service - enter

find an ASC (Authorized Service Center) - enter

a screen will come up and enter your zip code - enter

a list of authorized techs within a 100 mile radius comes up

pick one - click on their name

up comes all contact info and included if they do upgrades

bruce

Independent MTH Authorized Service Center Technician

RJR posted:

Ed, the supercap I use for the PS2s with 3-volt boards (all I now have) is a 2.5F 5-volt , Digikey # 589-1008-ND, at www.digikey.com.  About $5.25 each.  I connect this to the plug from an old battery, and use heat shrink tubing.  Picture of finished product attached.
I just plug in right into the battery socket

Is this essentially what the BCR-2 is?

Does the supercap have polarity?

Thanks,

Jim

Jim, yes the supercap does have polarity.  I have never owned or opened a BCR to see what is inside.  I have read the patent for the 9-volt model, and that uses zener diodes between supercaps, to balance voltage I believe.  From what I have read, the BCR for 3-volt boards does not have zener diodes.  Do note that the Digikey model I use has 2 supercaps in series sealed in a case.  Obviously, the manufacturer does not feel zener diodes are needed in a two-cap configuration.

The BCR is essentially supercaps. 

I went to supercaps because I have 20 PS2 3-volt locos, and do not get to run trains to often, so keeping batteries charged can be an issue.  Battery life has not been an issue; I've had some exceed 10 years.

Batteries do have one advantage over a supercap.  If power to the track is lost shortly (within say 10-15 seconds) after power is turned on, a supercap-equipped loco may not have had a chance to adequately charge up and the loco ID can get garbled.  This can also happen if a battery is dead.  I have had it happen about thrice in the past 5 or so years.  I do not regret having done the conversion.

The Digikey supercap is much smaller than a pair of AA or AAA cells--fits into smaller locos.

I've installed a super cap in the mth challenger and removed the batteries and have not had any issues as long as you wait on power up time for the super cap to charge approximately a minute or so and works fine. occasionally on startup the sound volume is low if it has been quite sometime since the locomotive was used but shutting down the with dcs and repowering the locomotive then it powers up and sounds and everything works great!

Alan

I am a resident of Long Island. I would go to Marty Fitzhenry or George Galyo (AKA GGG). Both are certified MTH techs. There are no certified techs on Long Island that I know of. Marty is in Massachusetts and George is in Virginia.

To save on postage, I remove the bodies from the engine and tender. Also take the battery out.