Ps2 5volt or 3volt question

the easiest way is to go to mthtrains.com and enter your item number and there web sight will tell you which it is! the other way is if you have the original box will tell you and also if it is a steam  engine take the tender apart and check battery if 9 volt actually 8.4 rechargeable it is a ps 2 5 volt  if it has a 2.4 volt it is definitely a ps2 3 volt board! actually the ps2 3 volt boards are the best and the most reliable. the pas2 5 volt had capacitor failure which capacitor bulged out on power supply board which will in tern damage or destroy models, better to replace with ps 2 volt boards they are an exact wire for wire pinout replacement and you just have to change the black or whit connectors depending what cables you have in your engine, I have done many. definitely ps2 3 volt boards are more reliable and Easier to work on ps2 5 volt can be repaired where ps2 3volt can be repaired!

Alan Mancus  

Roger,

if it is a steam  engine take the tender apart and check battery if 9 volt actually 8.4 rechargeable it is a ps 2 5 volt 

It's not necessary to disassemble an MTH PS2 engine to determine the nature of its battery. Rather, look for a battery charging port.

A rectangular, 2-pin port indicates a 3 volt board with a 2.4 volt battery while a round port indicates an 8.4 volt battery and a 5 volt board. If there is no port at all, it's an early 5 volt board and 8.4 volt battery.

The port, if present, may be on the on the bottom of a diesel or a steamer's tender; under a hatch; or behind a door.

This and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Thanks guys, I have a mth kcs tunnel motor engine and the box lable on the end just states ps2. When you take out the instructions it says ps2 3volt system. The mth web sight states on this engine it is ps2 no mention of the 3 volt system in the descriptions. 

I am looking at another kcs engine from probably aroung that same time. Same paint schem. Its item number 20-2662-1. It is used and just needed to tell if it was the 3volt board. It is listed on the bay and so I dont have the engine in hand to inspect. Just have to go by the sellers pics and by the mth product descriptions. Have contacted the seller waiting to hear back also.

Was asking this question for older mth ps2 engines. If I can get a good deal used I may in the future want to pick up certain roadnames in paint schems no longer offered. Only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on items off the bay was knowing if the engine for sale was a 3volt system. Some sellers are just toy sellers and not train guys like us and would not know what we are asking. They just go off the decsription on the end of the box. 

I too want to stay away from early ps2 5v systems. That is why I ask the question here to get feedback from dcs exsperts. Thanks barry and everyone.

Just a quick note. I went to the mth website and checked again. The only place I found where it stated it was a 3volt system was to actually click on the instruction manual button and when the maual was brought up right on the front cover in parentheses it states it is a 3volt system. Guess its a lot of digging but seems thats how to determine if its a 3volt system when buying off the internet like on the bay. If assuming one has the correct mth product number to go buy. With the engine in hand like buying at a train show or store the things you guys stated can be checked for easily enough. When buying off the internet you have only the box end and sellers pics to go buy most times. Maybe I am overthinking this here,but have maybe found the answer to my question. 

Not all the 3V products actually have that in the front of the manual, but if you read down where they talk about maintaining the battery, they'll show you the battery type.

I believe none of the 5V MTH diesel engines have the newer 3-2 trucks either. 

Well, that's certainly true Paul, but many of the 3V equipped ones don't have them either, so that isn't much help in identifying them.

Thanks john. I wondered too about the 3-2 trucks. Learned two new things about this topic today. Now maybe I dont get caught with an older engine I dont want. Yes you can upgrade to 3v but that adds to the purchase price. I just wish mth have put ps2/ 3volt on thier box ends. Would have helped us identify the updated electronics inside more easily. Oh well hind sight is 20/20 right.

I am modeling midwest roadnames such as the KCS,MP,KATY plus UP and BNSF and mth made some hard to get paint jobs on the kcs and mp back in the day I like. When I come across a good deal on an engine I like I gather my info on it to see if I can aquire or want it. Some are hard to find others very eaily found.With being cautious and patient I have slowly aquired a nice little roster of mth and lionel engines to my fleet. Once you double or triple head these massive engines you are hooked. 

If the MTH product for O gauge is 2000 to 2003 it is 5V, around 2004 and definitely by 2005 and up they are 3V.  May be some oddball exception with a delayed product as an example.

Looking at Sound File can also help tell.   G