Ps2 8.4 volt issues

I can tell you all our PS-2 early engine with the 8.4 battery are still running  just fine.  Of course we've changed the battery   and on some we're using  BRCs.      Most of the early engines were designed to run on 3 rail track only and therefore have no issues with out side   rail pick up.   Anyway I have a 5 volt ps-2 from around 2000 that  still operates just fine.

Apparently the speaker is the first that goes wrong with these early engine. We haven't changed a speaker  yet but have ordered a couple just in case. One engine is getting a little scratchy and weak.

Maybe we've been lucky. I like the early engines.

Thank you very much for your reply, how much would the speaker's be that could possibly go?

Personally, the only way I would buy a 5-volt PS2 is if the price were substantially more than $200 (price of an upgrade kit) less than I could get a 3-volt PS2 for.  I believe I've had 6-7 5-volters.  After 3-4 had failed, I upgraded the rest and sold off the 5-volt boards that hadn't failed.

If you do buy it, check the battery.  If it's white remove it and replace it with a new battery.

I've personally had two of around five or six 5V boards die in my own locomotives.  I've replaced 30 or more for customers that have died for various reasons.  There were some known issues, and it's a suspicion that they ran many of the components near their limits in that original design.  Add to that the fact that the two board sandwich is impossible to separate to replace failed components, and when they die, they're generally dead!  OTOH, the 3V boards are more robust, and since they easily separate, you can not only replace components, but also replace just one of the two boards for a non-repairable failure.  Once in a while a 5V board can be brought back, but usually it's curtains when they go.

I'm with RJR, if I get it cheap enough, I'll consider it, I just assume that I'll likely have to replace the board at some point in the near future.  If I don't, I'm money ahead.

On the 5 volt board engines I wanted to keep, I did the following.  I replaced the board with the 3 volt boards, correct battery,  and speaker.  I would pull the black connectors off the 5 volt board and use them to replace the white connectors on the three volt board.  MTH did sell a 3 volt board set that was set up that way.  Not a big deal.

Marty, can you please advise what is  the cost of replacing the 5 volt system with a 3 volt system is and can you still get the boards. I never replaced one of these boards and don't even know what they look like can you advise how complicated is a job would it be. Sounds like not too bad from your last reply. Also please advise on the speaker you're talking about and it's cost. What do you think a good price would be for a ps2 Premier Triplex with the 5 volt system?

Thanks for your reply, Jerry

Jerry, if you had to buy parts retail, you could spend $200.00.  Speakers are about $12.00 now.  For the Triplex with a 5 volt board running, I would place it somewhere around $650-$700.  I just picked one up with a blown board very cheap.  It was new never run and the former owner put it on the track with the old white dead battery and guess what.  I think the engine is ugly and I will use it for trading material after I fix it.  Good summer project.

If I see one of these cheap, I'll probably bite, they're a cool and unusual locomotive.

FWIW, I agree with Marty's price range, that's right where I'd put it.

Marty, I'm sure the reason has been posted somewhere/time, but I don't recall it.  What is there about the white battery that causes board failure, while other batteries, regardless of condition, aren't "condemned?"

It may be because some NiCad batteries fail sorted.  If one cell is shorted, which is fairly common, the charging circuit would be working overtime to bring the charge up to what it thinks it should be, and it never makes it.  I suspect that could have a long-term adverse effect on the charging circuit.  I don't know this is the primary reason, just speculation on my part knowing how NiCad batteries can fail.

A long time ago when I used more NiCad batteries, I used to "zap" them with a charged cap to remove the short and be able to use the battery again.

I would guess that any battery can fail shorted.   I'm also not so sure that the variety of non-white batteries were all NiMH.

I think it was just more common with NiCad.  The silver batteries were NiCad, all the green ones I've seen were NiMh.

I think the issue is the white NiCad batteries are just way too old.  Approaching 12 to 22 years old.

4 ohm speaker is $15 now.

MTH would charge you $200 for board, $34 for hardware kit.  Plus labor.

A PS-32 upgrade kit, which would also work is $200 MSRP.   G

No question on that, George.  I'm just wondering why this particular battery, when bad, can apparently damage a board while other apparently do not.  At this point it's an intellectual curiosity, since  I have replaced all of my 5-volt boards, using a few of this 5-volt to 3-volt upgrade boards and other times just gutting and using the upgrade kit.

All this finally motivated me to get my engines and batteries defined and documented. I have them on a spread sheet and now I want to document them so I will know going forward what is what. First I'm removing the batteries from my Lionel engines. Then I'm separating the 5V and 3V engines and making sure I don't have any white batteries in the 5V engines. I'm talking 50+ engines and need to write this stuff down. I have some older 5V engines that might still have the original batteries in them, but they are on the layout and thus get charged periodically. It's time to make sure they get replaced.

RJR posted:

No question on that, George.  I'm just wondering why this particular battery, when bad, can apparently damage a board while other apparently do not.  At this point it's an intellectual curiosity, since  I have replaced all of my 5-volt boards, using a few of this 5-volt to 3-volt upgrade boards and other times just gutting and using the upgrade kit.

NO I do not think so.  Those batteries were pretty good and well made.   G

Hi all,

Maybe it is a mistake but I ended up buying a premier Triplex ps2 5 volt engine. I paid $750 for it shipped and it's supposed to be new or at worst like new. Need your suggestions on what type of battery to replace the one that is in it. Also 'is there any way of telling if the engine is running ok by running it  after removing the battery?

I'm hearing that a BCR supercap battery would be a good one use  in it. Can you please tell me if you agree, where I can get one and how to build one up?

Would a battery replacement such as this pretty much ensure that the engine will not fail as far as the board is concerned?

Please advise as I am anxious to get this engine running as soon as I get it'

thank you very much Jerry

Jerry A posted:

I'm hearing that a BCR supercap battery would be a good one use  in it. Can you please tell me if you agree, where I can get one and how to build one up?

Would a battery replacement such as this pretty much ensure that the engine will not fail as far as the board is concerned?

Of course not!  There's a lot more reasons for a 5V board, or any board for that matter, to fail.

Jerry, please combine your threads.  I just answered this in your other thread.  There is no guarantee a 5-volt board won't fail no matter what you use, bcr or battery.