PS3 tach tape/ fixed

 Something's wrong here. I had installed the largest supplied tach tape on the flywheel that matched the size of it. The engine ran way too fast when timed with another PS2 engine. I switched to the smallest sized tach tape and it seems that the engine runs the same exact speed??

 Maybe it's missing count? I'll have to try another. I played with the gap and no change. Everything else is working fine. Chuffs are good and strong?

It's the number of stripes on the flywheel that determines the speed difference.  The gap should be the same.

 Well, I got somewhere.

 At least I got my PS2 Allegheny upgrade paced out perfectly. I had made some custom tapes and I used a size 30 font. It was a hair too fast. I was going to leave it alone and I couldn't help but tinker. I blacked out one white area with a sharpee and now it's perfect.

 So for the PS3 Allegheny, I tried adjusting the gap to see if it was that. No difference that I could tell. I slide a white piece of paper in-between and after a pause, the engine cranks right up. So I know the reader is working. I'm thinking that the PS2 Allegheny sound file must not match up with this board's flashed parameters?

 Is there something in the soundfile that would make the speed about a third faster than it should be?

 Maybe I could stick back in the old PS3 RK sounds to see if the speed is correct? It had a smaller flywheel though. I don't see the soundset for the PS3 Allegheny available????

Joe, The flash program will have the characteristics including speed.  You can use the PS-2 Allegheny sound set for sounds.  If it is too fast add more stripes to the flywheel.  That will trick the processor into slowing down the motor.   G

 Well I found this one to try???

http://mthtrains.com/content/30-1582-1

only PS3 one I could find that may have a pitman type motor with a larger flywheel??

Not sure if I'm even on the right track yet.

Ooops, I didn't see your answer G. I used as many stripes as I thought I could get the reader to see. It's so far off that something else might be happening?

 If I set the pace of another engine to 22 mph, this engine matches at 15 mph.

 Sorry G. I shouldn't have even question that fact. I raised the number of stripes way up to like 40? Now I'm within about 1% of speed. Thanks all!!  (again)

I guess you didn't read my post about the stripes...

 Yes john I did, I read all of your posts. I read also many posts on the subject by Dave H and others as well. This isn't my first upgrade but it's my first with PS3. I thought something was odd by the fact that the soundset in a PS2 Allegheny uses a third less stripes than this one. What do you think??

The PS/3 doesn't get it's speed information from the sound file like the PS/2, which is why that isn't all that significant.

I haven't tried to stick a PS/3 board set into something bare yet, so you're going where no man has gone before.

The PS/3 doesn't get it's speed information from the sound file like the PS/2, which is why that isn't all that significant.

Can you elucidate?

 When you change the soundset, it says at the end it's sending flash code to the engine as well. Does that contain the speed code?

My understanding is that the chain files control the engine characteristics for PS/3, and the sound files are actually sound files, not engine parameter files.

Are the "chain files" separate from the sound files one downloads from the MTH web site?  If so, what will happen when upgrade kits come out--will one have to download & upload multiple files?

If you go to this link: http://mthtrains.com/content/30-1584-1

You can see what is in the PS/3 zip file, it has both sets of files.  The chain files are in an embedded zip inside, and the loader takes them directly from the ZIP file.

 I heard that the boards get a flash code for engine parameters. It would be good to know at least the basics. Are there just two sets? One for steam and one for diesel? are they matched to a group of some kind like how the engine is geared?

 Sometimes these companies come out with new products and us end users find new ways to test their stuff!!!

 edit: well I see your post John. I understand the basics. It would be good to know what's inside to choose the correct "chain file". Can I just load that file to the loader and keep the Allegheny sounds?

Well, any downloadable PS/3 set has the chain files.  I don't know if they're all unique, but I suspect there's at least a few varieties.  I'll bet there's at least four or five, and most likely more. 

John, you are correct.   You can use the sound file that comes with the download or install the chain files and use any PS2 3V file you like.  The sound file loaded does not have to be the PS3 sound file.