PS3 steam upgrade reverse issue.

Is there any chance that the connectors to the front and rear headlights are reversed? If so, when the engine is first started up and running the rear headlight toweled be on.

A second possibility is that the motor wires are reversed.

In either case, the front and rear coupler buttons should operate properly.

Barry, unless I'm crazy everything was right earlier. I loaded a Ps3 production file with chain files. Could this be the problem? I noticed the issue when I change from, Oil to Coal.

The backup light stays on in either direction. Earlier it was changing with direction. I verified direction in convention mode a day ago.

Yes the rear coupler fires correctly.

Mike

So I bit the bullet and reversed the motor leads. Works great except tail lamp is always on. Am I wrong that it should be off in the forward direction?

Maybe I've convinced myself to follow a bad thought process.

Thanks,

Mike

Dazed and Confused

Mike,

Prior to reversing the motor leads, did the engine startup in the correct direction, forward. If so, the motor leads were correct and the issue is only the backup light.

If everything was OK before loading the production chain file, I suggest that you put the motor wires back as they were and reload the original, upgrade, chain file. The production chain file would assume all lights were LEDs and would treat them as such rather than as bulbs, while the update chain file would assume bulbs were present.

Is the tender light an LED or a bulb? If it's a bulb, that could account for the issue with the backup light and other hardware anomalies.

What benefit were you seeking by changing the chain file?

You can not load PS-3 production Chain files into a PS-3 steam upgrade kit board.  That board is a diesel PS-3 board with the adapter for lights.  A Real PS-3 steam has a boiler board and a tender board.  The chain file is looking to communicate with a boiler board which doesn't exist.

This has been discussed multiple times.  Only load PS-3 sound files with a PS-32 Board set.  The PS-3 Steam kit is a PS-32 board set.

You need to go back and load the PS-32 chain file for Steam.  G

To Barry yes everything functioned properly at one time. 

To GGG, when you say PS-32 chain file are you talking about the PS3 upgrade set.

I'm working on a premier Challenger. The box doesn't have the part number on it. So I'm assuming it's an old MT- series.

I tried reloading a PS2.0 production file nothing changed.

I really thought I understood all of this, maybe not so much now.

Mike

For my next question. Can the wrong sound file damage the upgrade board?

Is there in print a do's and don'ts for sound file loading.

Barry, I got the 3rd edition Friday. Thanks. I'm going to pass 1st edition on to someone else who may need it.

Mike

I went through this a while back on an upgrade I was doing. The ps32 boards, or the boards in a kit, come preloaded with their own chain file. You will have to download the ps32 chain file back into your boards. One of the guys on here helped me when I had this problem. I'm not computer savvy enough, or I would help you.

I'm hoping someone will direct me to the PS-32 chain files.

Thanks:

Mike

I,m not really crazy after all!

p.s. Don't ask my wife.

Winger, there is no chain file available for a PS3 steam upgrade kit.  The steam PS3 upgrade kit is completely different than the PS3 factory steam boards.  The diesel upgrade kits are identical to the factory boards, but not the steam.  Try the PS2 sound file.

I wrote the Ps3 sound file and chain files into the PS3/2. How do I undo it? 3.0 upgrade or 2.0 files didn't fix problems.

Mike

I would try just going ahead and loading the PS2 sound file.  I think the chain file wouldn't take, and sound files erase prior files.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I am a lot wiser now then when I started.

MTH so graciously sent me the Steam 32 chain files this morning and everything is back to normal. 

They even admitted that some of the kits shipped out may not have had the files from the factory.

I even had to undo the engine rewire that was done when I mucked everything up.

Like my old boss used to say," If you're not doing anything wrong, then you're not doing anything."

Regards,

Mike

RJR posted:

Winger, there is no chain file available for a PS3 steam upgrade kit.  The steam PS3 upgrade kit is completely different than the PS3 factory steam boards.  The diesel upgrade kits are identical to the factory boards, but not the steam.  Try the PS2 sound file.

That is incorrect, there is a specific chain file for the PS/3 steam kit using the PS32 board.

Then I stand corrected.  When using ps3 upgrade kits, I don't recall ever loading a chain file.

You normally shouldn't have to, they come with the correct chain file.  However, there are apparently occasions where the wrong chain file is in the board.  However, in this case, he loaded an incorrect chain file during the installation.

Typically PS-32 boards come with the diesel version of the Test All Chain File (SD-70ACe).  The Steam kits should have the PS-32 Steam file, but early kits did not.

Since I always load on the bench tester I can see if the unit has directional lights. If so I know the diesel file is installed and I load the Steam set.  G

Winger, why did you have to get the steam chain file from MTH? Isn't it available on their website?

Dave, Even though I've been dealing with software for 40+ years. Then DCS arena was new to me. I didn't understand the upgrade process well enough. Even after searching the form, apparently I didn't ask the right search questions.

The upgrade is called a 3.0 upgrade but it's really a PS-3/2 upgrade. Some of the 3.0 features but you use 2.0 sound files.

The boards are preloaded with PS32 Sound and Chain files. The chain files affect different parts of operation. In my case the engine was per the posts above backwards with the backup light on constantly.

This was because I loaded the 3.0 sound file and chain files. 2.0 doesn't have chain files embedded in them. The only way to get them is call MTH or have a Tech give them to you.

Got the files reloaded them plus the 2.0 sound files and everything is now fine. It was really frustrating because of the lack of proper documentation (in my mind).  For example one Diesel manual says use 3.0 files. The steam says use 2.0. Hence my confusion.

If you've read through all the posts then you can tell my frustration. But all is well now.

I have retained the chain files for future issues. I also provided Gunrunnerjohn with copies to compare with what he has.

That's about it in the nutshell. If I've made any gross errors, someone will respond. on this topic.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Thanks for the clear explanation, Mike. I just don't understand why MTH doesn't provide a link on their website for these chain files. I guess one lesson we can all learn from this, is that it pays to upload all files out of the board to our computer and save them before downloading over them in the engine. That way you can always go back to square one when something like this happens.

The default chain files will not be uploaded. Mth also told me that some upgrade kits got out with no chain files loaded. Which may explain why I had no head light when I first started the engine before loading the sound software. 

MTH assumes that the user will not be messing with the chain files. The techs check to see if the chain file is loaded and proper. If not the put in the proper chain file. This is for a factory authorized upgrade center. They use a test station to determine this.

If you're interested I can provide the chain files Mth gave me. Hope this help more.

Regards,

Mike

Yes Mike, I would love to have them. My email is in my profile.

On their way.

Mike

Dave, I once tried downloading a sound file frpm a ps2 loco.  Almost starved to death it took so long. 

Can chain files be offloaded from a ps3?

The PS3 chain files can get one in trouble that's what messed mine up. I downloaded the PS3 Chain files. The PS-32 upgrade board don't like them.

Mike

Thanks MIKE.  RJR, I never tried uploading chain files from an engine, but thought it should be possible, unless the loader program doesn't have that feature. As far as speed goes, my TIU downloads and uploads much faster through fixed channel 2, then 1. Don't understand why, though.  I never tried it but I also read here on the forum that using DC to do downloads is faster too.

For a TIU, I don't use any channels.  If you meant locos, I've never compared channels.

I like most people power up TIU through Fixed Channel 1.  The loader program says the same. Haven't tried fixed 2 before.

Just checked, the loader program will not upload Chain files, only sound files, to your computer. It's a one way street.

Chain files have to be Flashed.

Regards,

Mike

Mike, I'm a little lost when it comes to some of this computer stuff, so can you give a simple definition of what FLASHED means?

Dave think of the Chain files as Firmware. They can only be placed into the memory chips using a special program called a Flash program. Its only function it to send the files to the memory chips in the proper sequence usually with a  checksum returned to the program do indicate success.

I've never had or seen a Flash reader program although I imagine they exist somewhere especially in the MTH train environment.

Where as the sound files are software which can be read and rewritten as needed. For lack of better terms (less secure from meddling). This is my best understanding of the process if I'm off base someone here will correct me. That's what great about this forum.

P.S. the DCS loader program will open and load the zipped files without any intervention from operator.

Like my old boss used to say; "If you're not doing anything wrong , you're not doing anything!"

Regards,

Mike

Thank You MIKE. I just noticed the Loader program does have the ability to download a flash file into the chip, but does not have the ability to take a flash file (upload) from the chip into our computers. So in short, sound files and flash files are two totally different animals that take two totally different programs to handle them. I do have a few early PS3 upgrade kits on the shelf that may not have the flash files installed, so thank you for sending the files to me, because I may need them.

If your engine does something crazy like no headlight or tail light, I think I'd flash it with the proper file.

Mike

Winger posted:

Just checked, the loader program will not upload Chain files, only sound files, to your computer. It's a one way street.

Chain files have to be Flashed.

Sure it will.  I suspect you meant download them to the computer.

When I said upload I was speaking of the direction the file would be going in reference to the computer. Download going to engine .

Upload coming from engine. Just to clarify my mindset.  FYI.

Thanks for bringing the up so I can say what's going on in my head.

Regards,

Mike

P.S. GunrunnerJohn did you compare the chain files I sent you with what you already had?

I just noticed more flash icons on your screen shot.

Which way is up?  GRJ, I thought that icon meant send to Loco??????

"Downloading" traditionally means bringing something to the computer.  "Uploading" traditionally means sending something to a remote site or machine, in this case the locomotive.

Notice the arrow points to the locomotive, as in "uploading".

I have to keep things straight in my mind especially if I forget to look at Icons. Which happens sometimes.

Your point is well taken also. As long as the right data gets to proper place.

Thanks again

Mike

Don't feel bad, Winger, we all have our ups and downs.

GRJ, he was talking about transferring a chain file from the board to the computer, I think.

GRJ, I interpret that icon, with the arrow pointing down, as sending down to the engine or to download. I interpret the term download as a movement down hill from a larger, greater, or higher source to a smaller, lesser,  or lower source. Example: a movement from the worldwide web to my laptop. The web being higher and greater, moving info down hill to something lower and lesser, my laptop. My laptop is higher, greater, and smarter then the engine. So the movement would be down hill, arrow pointing down, to the engine. The other icons have an arrow pointing up, so Upload to me would be the opposite or an up hill movement to a higher greater source from a smaller, lesser, or lower source. So all along I've been wrong and so is MTH with their arrows. What I take your saying is the correct way to view the wording would be to look at my laptop as the very bottom or lowest point. I guess I should have bought one of those "for dummies" books back when computers became a household tool.