PS2 3v board availability / fixable ??

Exactly what are the symptoms of your failure?  Many failures of the 3V processor board can be repaired, but obviously not all.  They are much more repairable than the 5V boards, so there's always hope.  There are many failures that can be repaired, and some that are beyond the capibility of anyone without sophisticated chip removal and replacement technology.

THe 3V is obsolete also.  No more available from MTH.  Power Supplies, they probably have stock, but that is the most repairable part too.  3V can be repaired unless there is a processor short or battery process fault on the board.  If it acts up, do not power it up until the source of fault is found. 

I repair them.  G

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Exactly what are the symptoms of your failure?  Many failures of the 3V processor board can be repaired, but obviously not all.  They are much more repairable than the 5V boards, so there's always hope.  There are many failures that can be repaired, and some that are beyond the capibility of anyone without sophisticated chip removal and replacement technology.

I will do some tests with the bundle of bad 3v processor boards i have this weekend and get back to you with the symptoms. I would definitely like to get these fixed (if possible) and have them on hand for back ups in case any of my collection pieces die or develop issues (all of my stuff is PS2 3v) since I refuse to rip out all the guts just to put several hundred worth of upgrade time and money into them simply because a processor that is no longer supported fails. I don't want LED lighting in my steamers (or anything) and I don't care for the PS3 sound files, personally (at least not enough to go through all that every time).

GGG posted:

THe 3V is obsolete also.  No more available from MTH.  Power Supplies, they probably have stock, but that is the most repairable part too.  3V can be repaired unless there is a processor short or battery process fault on the board.  If it acts up, do not power it up until the source of fault is found. 

I repair them.  G

Good to know. I will email you this weekend, thanks.

So there is no current direct replacement for the old PS2 3v processor board, correct? Not even the PS32 board?

If your PS2 3v processor board goes (without a direct back up on hand or someone capable of repairing it) the only alternative is to gut all the PS2 and replace it all with PS3? Do I have that right?? Just seems insanely impractical and expensive. PS2 3v was a great system and seems to run smoother than a lot of the newer PS3 locos I've seen.

No, The PS-32 board which is a PS-3 diesel board base, but has an adapter board on top that allows all the original harnesses to plug in.  It allows the PS-3 bottom board to drive bulbs instead of LEDS.  It is the repair board for both PS-2 5V and PS-2 3V.  It is slightly bigger and uses a different heat sink type, but otherwise it is plug and play.  Reload the PS-2 3V SF, or chose a PS-3 SF of the same engine type.  You just used PS-32 Specific flash code, since it allows the board to drive Light bulbs  via the adapter board.

If you want, just send me the processor boards, I have static test that can help determine if they are repairable.  Before I power them up.   G