PS1 BOARDS - HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

Peter, is there a way you can affordably send a forum member one or two of your problem chips and let them try them in their AS-616s that work?  If they stop working you clearly have bad chips.  Also if one the intercontinental chips is the "new" one from MTH perhaps they can forward it back to MTH as it should be less than a $1.00 (US).

Good luck!

Jeff

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Chuck,

Unfortunately, on this model, it doesn't.

To recap, the crux of this entire thread is that this model (AS-616) won't operate with a Z4000, or apparently anything else, in spite of @Buco trying three separate AS-616 chips.  His boards are good because they work fine if he inserts an EP-5 chip.

Mike

My impression is, the 50Hz might be a factor, and what works in the US on 60Hz, might not work on 50Hz there.

That's why the mismatching results IMO. I could be wrong, but again I think that plays into this.

That could be an issue, as all American transformers are rated for 60hz. Most 60hz transformers will work okay on 50hz, but in a case of electronics it might possibly make a difference. I don't know if MTH made a special edition Xformer for export, but they did sell European trains, they were PS3 only, not PS1.

So it seems I have an engine with the same problem. I was not aware of the history of the PS-1 boards as provided here, thank you to all that contributed!

I have a question or two:

1. Can I run my engine without the sound chip?

2. Could I replace the whole PS-1 electronics from QSI with something from Dallee (or some other manufacturer)?

3. If I installed an electronic reverse unit, could I install a dc relay and open the coupler with the whistle button?

I am fine with not having sound and/or all the features that were originally part of the PS1 system, especially since I can't use them.

The engine is the old premier line Santa Fe 2903 4-8-4 Northern.

@Guitarmike posted:

So it seems I have an engine with the same problem. I was not aware of the history of the PS-1 boards as provided here, thank you to all that contributed!

I have a question or two:

1. Can I run my engine without the sound chip? No, the sound chip is required for the PS1 upper board to tell the PS1 lower board what to do. It's a system and doesn't work with just one half.

2. Could I replace the whole PS-1 electronics from QSI with something from Dallee (or some other manufacturer)? Sure, PS1 is just an advanced conventional control board. A suitable reverse board and suitable sound board can be retrofitted. In fact, let's be honest, it's 4 wires in the tether on steam. 2 are track power 3rd rail and frame/wheels, and the other 2 are the DC drive motor power.

3. If I installed an electronic reverse unit, could I install a dc relay and open the coupler with the whistle button? Sure, because you are building your own system you can make it do whatever you want. Using a DC offset whistle relay is an old trick. Also, PS1 couplers are the same impedance as Lionel electrocouplers often driven momentarily from track power. It's PS2 and PS3 electrocouplers that are not recommended for use with track power.

I am fine with not having sound and/or all the features that were originally part of the PS1 system, especially since I can't use them.

The engine is the old premier line Santa Fe 2903 4-8-4 Northern.

@Guitarmike posted:

2. Could I replace the whole PS-1 electronics from QSI with something from Dallee (or some other manufacturer)?

I am fine with not having sound and/or all the features that were originally part of the PS1 system, especially since I can't use them.

The engine is the old premier line Santa Fe 2903 4-8-4 Northern.

Before you do something drastic what is the nature of the problem that you can't use your Northern?

Does your engine properly come out of the 'Reset' state after you power up?  Or does it come out of 'Reset' and simply not move?

What's the Product No. for your engine?  (This would help).

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Before you do something drastic what is the nature of the problem that you can't use your Northern?

Does your engine properly come out of the 'Reset' state after you power up?  Or does it come out of 'Reset' and simply not move?

What's the Product No. for your engine?  (This would help).

Mike

Hey Gents,

The product number is 20-3013-1.  It goes into reset when powered up and I am unable to get out of it. I have tried everything like Buco, it gets to the point where I take it off the track and use something else. When I put the engine on the track I want to apply the throttle and go. I do not want to have to enter the secret code with the throttle every time I want to move the engine.

@Guitarmike posted:

When I put the engine on the track I want to apply the throttle and go. I do not want to have to enter the secret code with the throttle every time I want to move the engine.

Then you bought the wrong thing.  PS-1's, especially the early ones, are all about finicky; just the opposite of "apply the throttle and go".  It's a personal goal for many of us who own them to master them, and if not, then at least to beat them into submission.

Yours is definitely an early one, from 1995.

It appears, like @Buco, you may indeed have the same problem.

My sympathies, and as a result please ignore my comment about taking drastic action.

Mike

Central Terminal Jeff (Jeff): I am coming over to the States this June and July, and have made arrangements to meet Don (and hopefully Jon) at the MTH facility for the sole purpose of "testing" the three (3) AS-616 sound chips I have. Yes....I'm bringing them over with me!!! I want to see if they can get all of them to work properly in one of their PS1 boards, using the Z1000 and Z4000 transformers.

Vernon: Thanks for joining this discussion. I have thought about the difference in the Hz factor, but stumble over the fact that everything else MTH-wise works well for me (and Bill Veale - MTH's Australian technician) here in Australia. Even these very early PS1 boards (wires soldered directly to the pins on the boards - no Molex plugs at this stage) in the three (3) AS-616 loco's work well IF I remove their original sound chips, and use my old crappy left-over EP-5 sound chip, from the same production era (1990).

It's gotta be something in the programming of the AS-616 sound chips that stops the micro processer reading them properly. I'm laying the blame fairly and squarely at the feet of the AS-616 sound chips at this stage. It will be very interesting to see what comes of my visit to MTH in July. Watch this space!!!!

Peter.....Buco Australia

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Then you bought the wrong thing.  PS-1's, especially the early ones, are all about finicky; just the opposite of "apply the throttle and go".  It's a personal goal for many of us who own them to master them, and if not, then at least to beat them into submission.

Yours is definitely an early one, from 1995.

It appears, like @Buco, you may indeed have the same problem.

My sympathies, and as a result please ignore my comment about taking drastic action.

Mike

That's too bad, in my opinion the 2903 is one of the best looking Santa Fe Northerns ever made in O scale.