I have a couple of new PS3 engines that run slowly on my layout. All of my other engines run fast enough that I don't turn the speed control up the maximum level. I turn the control up to the max on the PS3 engines and the engines are not running as fast as I would like. Someone told me that PS3 engines don't run as fast unless you use the DCS system. Is that true?
I have tried two of my loops. One with a Lionel power brick and Legacy powermaster. The other with a ZW-L and TPC300.
Any thoughts?
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How much voltage is measured at the rails with the draw while running?
Seems like you have a power issue. Don't know why only on PS3 unless there's some other anomaly caused by the controller.
Can you remove the powermaster for a test.
Were these engines bought used? (Did someone set them up under DCS?)
Have you tried resetting them?
I checked the voltage - 17.5 volts on both loops. I changed the speed steps to 200. Seemed to help a little.
One engine used - two are new. All same issue. I have an old PS1 engine that runs fine on one of the loops.
I am not sure how to test the powermaster. I could measure the input voltage to the powermaster.
Since I don't have DCS I can't do a true reset. One of the engines is Atlas. I sent it back to them because it had other issues. They did a reset on it when they had it.
The other thing you can do is turn off speed control in the PS3 engine- yes in conventional, yes, with a powermaster, yes using horn and bell commands.
The idea is that even in conventional. PS3 is measuring the input voltage- making that an input for speed- but key here is headroom voltage. In order to regulate speed constantly under varying load- you need voltage headroom for the controller inside PS3 to give the motor more oomph to hit the target speed and maintain. So a given voltage input is treated like a slightly lower speed to give this room. When you turn off speed control now it's just straight voltage directly to the motor- no more feedback rpm interaction. Again, speed control on, engine runs slower at a given input voltage. Speed control off- engine now runs faster at a lower voltage compared to speed control enabled.
We do this same thing on Locosound engines for the same reasons.
PS3 instructions
Locosound for the same reasons
Loco-Sound Operating Instructions
Speed Control
M.T.H. engines equipped with Loco-Sound have speed control capabilities that
allow the engine to maintain a constant speed up and down grades and around
curves, much like an automobile cruise control. You can add or drop cars on the
run, and the engine will maintain the speed you set.
While the engine is programmed to start with the speed control feature activated,
you can opt to turn it off. This means the engine's speed will fall as it labors up a
hill and increase as it travels downward. It is also affected by the addition or
releasing of cars while on the run. To maintain a constant speed when speed
control is turned off, you need to adjust track voltage yourself.
To turn speed control on and off, put the engine in neutral, then quickly tap the
transformer's Whistle button one time then quickly tap the Bell button two times,
allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. Repeat
the 1 whistle, 2 bells code to return it to the other condition. You will want to do
this during the initial neutral upon start-up if you ever couple this engine to
another engine that is not equipped with speed control to avoid damaging
the motors in either engine. Each time you shut down the engine completely, it
will automatically turn speed control on.
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