PS2 VS. PS3 QUESTIONS

i can only tell you this I would not worry about changing batteries on ps2 engines, the ps2 boards seem to have less issues then ps 3 engines, and sometimes have to be reset on occasion where as  the ps2 engines seem much more reliable .I would recommend ps2 over ps 3 engines  but sometimes ps 3 engines work ok just more minor reset issues both engine's are good just I think I like ps2 3 volt engines better but I do have some ps 3 engines like  the new big boy 4014 MTH engine!

good luck in what ever decision you make. MTH

makes an excellent product! Alan

All but one of my engines is PS3, and I have several of them. I have had no problems with the PS3 engines, all are working fine here. Personally, I would go with the PS3 engines, which I have done for the most part. I have not run my only PS2 engine in a couple of years. Besides no battery there are more advantages to PS3 like more memory and improved sound. I don't recall all the rest of the new features, but they would be listed in your DCS companion book.

MTH had a price increase in late 2014 or early 2015, but it was not due only to PS3. All the manufacturers had an increase about the same time. MTH's prices remained the same for some time after they made the switch to PS3. I don't follow the used market so there may be a price difference there?

Jerry,

I have about 100 or so DCS engines with about 20% of them being PS3. The rest are split between PS2 5 volt and PS2 3 volt.

I see very few defects on any of my engines and percentage-wise the PS2 5 volt have more than either one of the other 2 groups. However, most of those issues are due to original  volt speakers starting to fail.

From my perspective, my PS3 engines are just as reliable as my PS2 3 volt engines. I really like the additional features such as Rule 17 lighting and fully-operational ditch lights on both ends of diesels that have them and not having to be concerned about battery  maintenance.

Further, I'm also (unlike some others) a fan of the wireless drawbar that's standard on all PS3 steamers.  

Given a choice between purchasing a new loco with PS2 3-volt or PS3, I'd pick the PS2, based on my experience.  If a battery bothers you, install a 2.5F supercap.  The PS2 was rock solid.

Is there a quick way to tell if an engine is a PS2 3V or a 5V by looking at it or do you need to actually remove the tender shell and examine the battery to be certain.

Thanks

Is there a quick way to tell if an engine is a PS2 3V or a 5V by looking at it

If the engine is a PS2 engine, it will have a sticker that states it's either "PS2 Freight", "PS2 Passenger" or "PS2 Transit". If the PS2 engine or tender has a white, rectangular, 2-pin charging port it's a 3 volt PS2. If it has a black, round charging port, or no charging port at all, it's a 5 volt PS2.

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 OGR’s web store!

Thank you

Thank you very much for the replies., I appreciate it. By the way, what is a 2.5 superpm battery and where might they be available and cost?

Jerry

I am referring to a supercapacitor of 2.5 Farad capacity.  If you can solder and reasonably proficient with polarity observation, you cab buy one from Digikey (www.digikey.com) and solder on the \connectors from an old battery.  The Digikey part is 589-1008-ND and sells for about $5 plus shipping.  If you do not have such proficiency, there is a device called a "BCR" which is essentially a supercapacitor that comes prewired to just plug right in to a PS2 board.  The beauty of a supercap or BCR is that they don't go dead; the bad part is that when they haven't been used for awhile, you have to let them sit for a half-minute to charge up before operating conventionally or before cutting power.

If you use  a battery PS2  at least once a month or so, and run for an hour or so, or when running other trains you leave it dead on a powered track, 8 years life would not be unusual for a MTH 2.4 volt battery.  I have about 22 PS2 l(all with 3-volt boards) locos and 5 PS3.  Last year my oldest batteries, dating from around 2003, started to occasionally fail, so I just lined them all up, bought a couple dozen supercaps, and converted them all.

Thanks much. Would another option be to buy a charger that would charge the ps2 battery or is that too much screwing aound?

I can solder just fine and is the only soldering required is the connectors? How do you make sure you have the right polarity? By the way the two iengines  I have are the ps2 New Haven ABA F3 and the New Haven switcher and they are both new never been on a track. I'm just looking for down the road. I whave a lot of Lionel and if anybody is interested I would like to trade for some MTH.

Really appreciate your help, best, Jerry

Jerry, the PS2 system charges the battery when the loco is on a powered track, whether or not the loco has been started up.  MTH sells a charger, which plugs into a port on the loco (diesel) or tender (steam) to charge the battery without the loco being on the track.

The supercaps have 2 terminals, one labeled with a + and the other a minus.l  If you clip the connector off a PS2 2.4 volt battery, solder the red wire of the connector to the + and the black wire to the -.  The supercap leads are bare, and therefore must be insulated.  I use heat shrink tubing which I slip over the connector wire before soldering and then slide over the insulation, then apply heat.  If you have an old PS2 which used the 8.4 volt battery, your best option is a BCR, which in that size also has zener diodes to assure each capacitor cell charges up evenly.

But as I said above, with reasonable use, the 2.4 volt MTH battery has a very long life.

Thanks alot!!!!!

Picture of supercap with connector attached.

Jerry, you didn't give model numbers so I can't go to the MTH site and determine whether the locos are "5-volt" (used a 8.4 volt battery) or 3-volt (2.4 volt battery).  If the former, I would open up the loco and see if the battery is white, in case I would remove it and throw it away.

I'd go with PS3 locos as better sound files and future resale prices will be better.

I might avoid a 2/3 rail steamer due to poor outside rail pick up.

I have several ps2/3 locos and have found them to work with no problems the good thing for me is some people are moving to the ps3 so they are selling there ps2 loco for good prices so you don't get some features in your ps2 as you get in ps3, For me the locos look the same run the same just may sound a little different but the prices have been good, So for me with a limited budget it makes sense to look at the ps2

I would not hesitate to buy a 3V PS/2 locomotive for the right price.  For the 5V models, it'll have to be a really right price as I'd plan on having to replace the logic board.

I agree with you, GRJ.  I updated all my 5-volt boards to 3-volt, selling the ones that hadn't failed, back when upgrade kits thru MTHRRC were cheaper.  Today, it doesn't pay.  I especially wouldn't buy a 5-volt diesel, because the PS3 diesel upgrade kits are a bit more complex, and because for the price of the kit I could almost buy an RK brand new.

Thanks for the replies. If anyone has any 3 Volt ps2's for sale I would be interested cuz I only have two mth engines right now. I can be reached at 734-453-1809, Michigan or my email isjba435@gmail.com. I do have lots of Lionel  for trade if anybody is interested.

I suggest you read the "For Sale" portion of the Forum.

Been looking at the for sale forum, thank you.

JerryA,

   All my engines are now either P2 or TMCC/Legacy, everyone of them works perfectly.  Guns is still upgrading my one Tin Plate Engine with ERR (TMCC) and I am sure it will work fine also.

The P3 engines do have a little up grading, however as the Tech advised sometimes there are small problems with P3 engines running correctly, at this point I can not see purchasing P3 when the P2 works perfectly all the time, and they are still around to purchase.  I install BCR's in all my P2 engines and forget about batteries.  The P3 wireless Draw Bar is both good and bad depending on which engine you pick, I do not recommend it for Tin Plate because of the pick ups.  Big Engines with multi pick ups work pretty darn well, from what I have witnessed myself.  

PCRR/Dave

The new MTH PS3 O Gauge Triplex sound file is far superior to any PS2 equivalent.  In a few years when MTH drops PS2 support you'll wish you had bought PS3 loco's.

The sound file may be better; the unit may be electronically a better design.  But I go for reliability.  I have 4 PS3's, one factory steam, 1 one factory diesel, 2 steam upgrades.  They have had problems.  I have never had a problem with a PS2 3-volt board, some of which are among the first issued, among the 22 or so I have.  So I agree with Pine Creek.

If I were in the market for a loco, brand new, and for the same price could get it in PS2 or PS3, I'd pick the PS2.  Others may differ, but hey, I'm the VP of Operations and the Supt of Maintenance as well as principal stockholder. 

RJR posted:

The sound file may be better; the unit may be electronically a better design.  But I go for reliability.  I have 4 PS3's, one factory steam, 1 one factory diesel, 2 steam upgrades.  They have had problems.  I have never had a problem with a PS2 3-volt board, some of which are among the first issued, among the 22 or so I have.  So I agree with Pine Creek.

If I were in the market for a loco, brand new, and for the same price could get it in PS2 or PS3, I'd pick the PS2.  Others may differ, but hey, I'm the VP of Operations and the Supt of Maintenance as well as principal stockholder. 

Same here. I won't hesitate to buy a PS3 engine but much prefer the later model PS2's. See my post on PS3 Bad Actors.

I didn't think PS3 was an improvement.  Sounds were not as robust on my diesel for one thing.  Also, I had to repair it two weeks after I got it.

Dennis

 I have a chance to buy a PS2 9 volt Triplex supposedly like new. What do you think about this battery system and what would be a fair price to pay? Thank you very much

Jerry A posted:

 I have a chance to buy a PS2 9 volt Triplex supposedly like new. What do you think about this battery system and what would be a fair price to pay? Thank you very much

I have two of these. No problem. 900 to 1000 is common. 

Jerry A posted:

 I have a chance to buy a PS2 9 volt Triplex supposedly like new. What do you think about this battery system and what would be a fair price to pay? Thank you very much

Are you talking about the Premier 20-3069-1 model?  As near as I can tell, that's one of the few with the 5V board. 

There's no way I'd pay more than 50% of the MSRP of $1399.95 for that one.  If it's over $700, my advice is to pass on it and keep looking.  I have very little faith in the 2001 5V PS/2 boards longevity.

Thank you very much for your replies. The last thing I need is issues with my layout other than I have right now so I really appreciate your help as I am pretty much new to building a layout.

I agree with GRJ on his analysis. Do be aware that the Triplex recently (2014) also came in a Rail-King Imperial version that listed for $700.  http://mthtrains.com/30-1646-1

I am a fan of the PS2 3 volt sound files and not at all a fan of the wireless drawbar.   I have over 300 MTH engines and feel I know a small bit about them.   Look at the supercap Bob (RJR) posted.   When looking at most soundfiles, start counting 7 positions from the left and you will see 3 if it is a 3 volt system.

John, I just picked up a 3069 with a bad board.  I will get to it and get it upgraded with a 3 V or PS-32.  

Hi Marty would you be good enough to send me a picture of what you're talking about so I can tell if an engine is 3 Volt or 5 volt?

Thank you very much, appreciate it, jerry 

I'd love to have a Triplex, if the Premier one ever comes along at a good price, I'll grab it and stuff a new board into it.

Jerry, For a steamer, if the tender has no charge port on the bottom, or if it has a round charge port, it is a 5-volt system, which used a 8.4 volt rechargeable battery.  If the port is rectangular (with 2 trimmed corners to assure correct polarity), the system is the 3-volt system which used a 2.4 volt battery.

Note that if you go to the MTH web site and insert "Triplex" in the search box, it will come up with links to all Triplexes MTH makes/has made, by model number, and there you'll get all the info.

Thanks  as usal, you guys are too **** good !!!!!!!

Best to all, Jerry 

you guys are too **** good !!!!!!!

You are very observing. 

Hello all,

I did end up buying a new or like-new PS2 5-volt  premier Triplex and have not received it yet. I paid $750 for it shipped. I will be replacing the battery on it as soon as I get it. Please advise what type of battery I should use and where I can get one. I would like to buy a BCR super cap battery and would like to know how to build one for use on the triplex. I would like to know where I could get a 5 volt bcr

Any help is appreciated as I would like to get this engine running right. Thank you .jerry