PS1 controlled engine batteries

Not sure exactly how long to run the PS-1 engine but I would say about twice a week for at least ten minutes each time. I do not like to do what is called track charging because of where I live, the electric drops off some at times and sends the engine flying down the track especially when you are not there.

The PS-2 engines have a charging jack on most of them on the bottom of the engine for the diesel and on the tender if it is steam. 

Lee Fritz

Put your model number in the search engine on the MTH site. The user manual is often a download.

I pulled this out of the manual for my unit. Short answer, replace it every 5 years.

SELF-CHARGING BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEM
Proto-Sound® includes a self-charging battery backup system for
improved performance at any speed. The battery ensures that power to the
sound system will remain on during directional changes, while setting
RESET options or when traveling over spots of dirty track and switches.
The self-recharging battery backup system is automatically turned on or off.
There no switches needed to enjoy the benefits of the automatic battery
backup system.
Proto-Sound® contains a warning alarm if the battery backup system fails
to automatically disengage when track power is turned off. Should the
backup system fail, you will hear a repeating whistle blast indicating that
this has occurred. Should this happen, unplug the battery from the
Proto-Sound® module (to prevent the battery from being run down) and
contact MTH for instructions on returning the train for repair.
REPLACING THE PROTOSOUND® BATTERY
The Proto-Sound® battery (located in the tender body), is a special NiCad
7-cell, 8.4v battery -NOT the 6-cell, 7.2v battery found in most convenience
stores. The battery is continually charged from the track when power is
applied above 11 volts. Should last for up to five years. In addition, the
NiCad battery is a dry battery and should not leak or cause any damage to
your locomotive during its lifetime. The 6-cell NiCad is NOT
recommended for use with Proto-Sound® applications.
If you notice that the sounds seem distorted or garbled at low voltages or
become immediately silent when power from the transformer is shut off, the
battery may be failing. Before replacing the battery, you should put the
engine in NEUTRAL and leave the transformer throttle set at about 12 volts
for 15 minutes. This should temporarily recharge the battery. If the garbled
or distorted sounds are reduced, then your battery charge has worn down.
You can give your battery a full charge by leaving the engine ON in the
NEUTRAL position for 6 hours.
Note: When charging the battery in neutral, if your trains contains a
Smoke Unit should be turned OFF to prevent damage to the wick and the
heating elements.
If you need to replace the battery, they are available from MTH
Proto-Sound® Electronics at 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia,
MD 21046-1532. A standard 9v alkaline battery can be substituted as a
temporary fix, but, since alkaline batteries can’t take a charge, it will
eventually wear down.

If you put in a BCR and if you remember to charge the BCR every time you fire up the engine, there should be no more troubles.

Being I just have a loop of track on the carpet, and not much book shelf space to keep locomotives out, mine get run twice a year for a month or two at a time, and I have not had any issues.

Do what Roy boy says, buy a BCR and you will not have to worry about charging batteries and scrambling boards.

http://www.jandwelectronics.com/index.htm This is a BCR!

A BCR is a Battery Component Replacement. It replaces a 9-volt rechargeable battery in PS-1 systems and smaller batteries in PS-2 systems.

A BCR fits inside a battery bracket and uses the same connector to the circuit board.

Put a locomotive with a BCR on the track. Apply 10 volts for 1 minute. The locomotive is ready to go.

I've done BCR swaps in several PS-1 locos, some of which had never been run, and the results have been excellent.    They run great, and now we don't have to worry about the batteries anymore.

Stuart

A BCR holds a charge for a few hours after a locomotive is turned off, but that isn't the big advantage.

No matter how long a locomotive has been stored or displayed, placing it on the track and applying 10 volts for 1 minute will charge the BCR and get that locomotive ready to run.

A BCR doesn't leak, either.

I put BCR's in all my PS-1 and PS-2 locomotives. Not one problem since.