PS3 upgrade information.

No problem, Pete.  I've been called worse---much worse!

Marty, problem is, as I understand it, that the P&P to upgrade 5-volt to PS3 will not be made available directly to the public.  Have you been able to check whether a P&P 5 to PS3 board will fit inside a steam loco, where the 5-volt board is located in the loco/

At this point, as stated above, the only change to the PS-2 Steam Upgrade kit, is they remove the PS-2 board, battery, battery harness and heatsink kit and replace it with the PS-32 board, and heatsink kit.

Diesel could be the same, but they have not released it yet.  I think Diesel upgrade harness are the hold up.

As far as fitting they are similar other than connector location and height as compared to the PS-2 board.   There are some small locomotives where speaker is in the frame not in the fuel tank, or short tenders where the fit may be interesting.

As an example I am doing a repair to a 5V FF electric.  The shell is not tall and the speaker is inside the engine.  Despite a very long chassis, the room to place a 3V board is tight, and it looks like I need to mimic the upside down mounting.  With the 12pin connector elevated over the speaker edge.  Not sure if the PS-32 to will fit.  To be continued, and I will post pictures.  But it will work for much of the conversions and repairs, and it also can work with the PS-2 slave boards.  Actually has a 2 pin connector that is used for the motor signals with better output.   G

per Marty, "I know MTH bashers are lurking but I want to say I know how much energy MTH has put into this program and being an operator I am thankful to MTH and the great people at MTH R&D."

Amen, Marty! MTH guys are true model railroad genius's

Dave G.

nice Job MTH GREAT Design, Marty excellent update for ps3 boards and kits, do you know what the price for the kits steam ps3 upgrade?

Also will they be bring any ps3 kits to York Pa.

Alan

What is the material and labor cost to repair a PS2 5-Volt to PS-32 in a steam locomotive?

Bobby, every guy who does upgrades charges about the same.  The cost of the new upgrade kits will be about $25.00 more than the PS2 kit.  

Thanks for all this information Marty. I too am grateful for MTH 's hard work in making these kits available.

My question is will there be a DCS/DCC switch included in the kit or does one have to purchase that separately? As we all know there wasn't a DCS/DCC switch in the previous PS2 upgrade kit.

I know this is obvious but I feel it needs to be mentioned. I would be careful when replacing a blown board and reusing all the existing PS2 wiring, lamps, smoke unit,etc because if that original board blew on it's own you're OK but if there was some kind of short circuit that took out the original board and the short is not repaired you most likely will blow up the new board.

There is a jumper connection, so you could easily add your own switch or just use the jumper.  G

Here is a picture comparison on a MTH Premier FF-2.  PS-2 5V to PS-2 3V to PS-32. 

The PS-2 5 and 3V had a variety of ways to be mounted.  The PS-32 will have less, so some fits will be tougher as I mentioned in an earlier post.

More flexibility with sound files though and the latest flash code has the stm/diesel/electric/articulate and Quillable Whistle file.  Trolley and electric pantographs will require a separate flash, as will a few other unique engines I believe.

G

Thank you GGG. I assume the instructions will show where the jumper is and how to set it for either DCS or DCC.

Just pull this jumper of the top board and you are in DCC.  Thank you MTH.

George, I see you have the 16 ohm speaker in place.  I have two of those box cabs and plan to do them up and slave the second unit.  I am old as I remember those screaming by in Pennsylvania many life times ago.

Marty, I only remember the GG-1s...  This was for a customer that the 5V failed.  The cab is pretty short so I think there might be an issue with the PS-32 fitting, even on the diesel bracket.  Unless you go with a smaller or flat speaker.  Here is the final with a PS-2 3V upside down.  That fit nicely, but you can see the top of board is at the fly wheel height. and just enough room left for the truck harness to swivel, with the 12 pin just above the speaker edge.

This was the FF-2. Looks like MTH only made 2 variations of this.  Like a Y1 but with passenger effect.

It was neat with PSA "arriving in Philly, Villanova, off to Paoli".  Brings back memories.  G

Marty, is there going to be an option (other than what we do now) to have direct connections to LED's for upgrades?  For upgrades, I normally dispense with the bulbs and use LEDs anyway, it would be nice if that were PnP.

I have not heard any more on that John.  My friend Locolawyer is a huge LED headlight guy.  I just cut the incandescent bulb off the wiring plug and install a bright white 3MM LED with a 560ohm resistor on the + leg.  Works perfect for headlight and backup light.  I am sure that is close to what you do.  I have used this combination for years and never had a problem.  Myself I like the old look.

I imagine that would drive the price up.  Adding limiting resistors to the board, LED in the kit.  G

I do the same Marty, although I use a 220 ohm resistor.

George, why would it drive the price up, LED's are cheaper than incandescent bulbs, and the PS/3 board drives LED's directly.  You could omit the piggyback board, more savings.

John, the top board is needed.  It is just as easy to do it like mentioned. 

The way the kit is built, I agree it's probably needed.  My point was that a PS/3 locomotive doesn't need the top board and it runs all the LED lighting just fine.  I was hoping, apparently in vain, that there would be a kit to use LED's directly.  I suspect that I'm not going to get my wish.  It's clearly possible...

Maybe I asked you this before Marty. Will these have the fix for the polarity issue for 2rail? I have a UP 9000 I would like to put one in.

Thanks,

Ralph