ps1 info

Yes a 9volt battery can be used for testing. Remember that the system will be trying to charge it though. I am not sure if 7.5v is enough and I wouldn’t take a chance running an engine with that battery voltage unless I charged it and checked the loaded voltage. It doesn’t take but a second to get it stuck into neutral and scramble the chip inside.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for your answer I never thought about it charging

JOHN G

What you described sounds like what has happened to my PS1 Budd cars.  I charged the unit for about 4 hours but it still won't move.  What do I do next?

Any all help appreciated.

JZ

JZ

When you find out please let me know

Thanks

JOHN G

What you do next is put in a new battery.  When a 9 volt battery registers 9 volts it is already dead.  The MTH batteries are rechargeale 8.4 volt batteries.  So in either case your reading of 7.5 volts is beyond dead.

.....

Dennis 

Please don't forget that with PS-1 in addition to having a good battery, it is necessary to supply the track power at 10 volts or less or it will not leave reset and run; this is when first starting out after powering up.

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

MTH ASC Tech 

Dennis:

Thank you

JOHN G

To all I'm learning

Thanks

JOHN G

I recommend a BCR from J and W Electronics (www.jandwelectronics.com). It replaces a battery, snaps in place, and uses the PS-1 charging system. Apply 10 volts for 1 minute and a locomotive is ready for running or testing.

Have a PS-1 loco that is locked in forward, other than the up & down deal with the transformer handle any other secrets to "resetting" this loco? I do not have the Z4000, although I do have the DCS system.

Thanks, Jeff

I don't think you need the up & down handle to unlock the engine because the locking feature (40) is already disabled. Use a var channel , get the engine moving and while holding  the whistle button on for about 3 second , shut off track power(shutting off track power might be a problem with the dcs remote because you'll have to scroll down the voltage) Maybe just press the dir button and hold down until the engine gives a short whistle or bell blurt.immediately release dir button, the engine should be unlocked.  There may an easier way with dcs remote ... I'm not sure what the softkey FDL is for.. Something to try.good luck.

MTH recomends to run the green rechargable battery..ditch the white rechargable battery..

allright guys. I guess since I asked for help now I need to get off my duff and try the recommendations.  I'll call around my LHS's and find out who has a battery as well as price out the BCR.  After that I'll let everybody know what happened and go from there.  I really don't want to put too much money into the Budd Cars becasue I'm hoping to sell them.  They've only run two or three times and I remember having a shop put a battery in a few years ago. ( last time they came out of the box.)

Thanks for the help. 

JZ

jz

If you have a Z4000, you can do a reset 18 and that should take care of the problem.

Bob

Compared to the price of the loco, compared to the cost, availability of replacement circuit boards, the price of a BCR is cheap!

Don't have one.... but belongs to a club that does!

Thanks to all for the help here!  I tried out a fresh, standard, 9v battery, ran the engine through the reset function and the budd car now wroks without a hitch!

A trip to the LHS tomorrow for a real mth battery and I'm in business.

Thanks again.

JZ.

I have 2 PS-1 engines and developed problems getting them to run. Someone explained this to me and it works for these. I have BSR's in both of them replacing the Batt. I power up to 10volts for 1 minute to charge the BSR, and then turn the voltage knob on the Z-1000 transformer down about 1/2 way toward the off position reducing the voltage on the track. I then push the direction button to start the engine in motion. It is he only way I can get them to run consistently.

AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!!  ALL of my PS1.0 engines have BCR's, and run PERFECTLY!  Besides comparing the price of a battery vs. BCR, how much is your 'peace of mind' worth??  No matter how long you store or park your PS1.0 engine with a BCR, about 1 minute at 9 volts max. when you first start up (to charge the BCR) and you are good to gooooo! 

For anyones info pull up MTHTRAINS.COM open service and enter your engine or set #

and get info also you can click on PS1 and get 36 pages  of how to do every thing

also PS2 which has less pages

JOHN G

Forgot---the PS1 info also lists all of the transformers that you can use and which terminals to hook your track to