PS3 upgrade information.

Ron, It is not that big a deal to me, but the hi-jacking tends to make the initial thread too long and disjointed.

 

A new thread gets you direct answers specific to your questions, which were many.

 

I sent you an e-mail with info you requested.

 

If you search on this forum you will also find many specific post on how to repair your 5V engine, with PS-2 3V or now also the PS-32.   Almost all of your questions are answered in those threads.  G

I agree with Marty. Not having to mess with the battery charging port will be nice.

I got the ASC update and I would imagine with the DCS/DCC jumper it should have the polarity capabilities for 2rail.

Just when I thought I was getting the hang of all this. Well I guess it's back to school again. Lol

I must say this is all well thought out. Can't wait to see more.
Ralph

I agree twice, that battery charging port always adds some time to the upgrade. 

While I don't find having to install a battery to be a particular problem, especially since smaller 2.4 V battery packs have become available, I agree that the charging port can be a problem.  I like to save that for last, when I have all the other components placed.  Therefore, before drilling are enlarging a hold for the charging port, I have to remove the speaker and other components so that they don't get fouled by metal filings.

Robert, I like to pull trucks and with a bare frame do all my layout work and drilling.  One time clean up and move on.  

You've done so many that I bet you know just where each component should go in each type of loco.

several, yes.

Nice to know there is a replacement.  So when one of mine pop I can send it to MTH for repair.  Just a little too scary reading the posting especially the "its just simple plug & play".  Being retired EE I had my share of plug and plays that didn't do well in the sandbox.  Because once you buy the kit and it doesn't work, its your word vs MTH, so you would end up sending it back to MTH to fix even if it was a bad out of box board, how would you prove it? 

But thats just me, your mileage may vary

The replacement for the 5 volt board is plug and play.  The upgrade kit is a different animal.  That has to be done the same as the previous upgrade kit.  Later this year will be the board sets for replacing boards in a PS2 3 volt system.  In picture 7 you will see the top board with the black connectors is for 5 volt systems and the white is for the 3 volt systems.  The bottom board is the same on both applications.

 

I have a board set on the way for my New York Central Niagara with the 5 volt board.  

As stated, MTH has had a transition plan for boards.  We replaced 5V with PS-2 3V boards with 5V connectors.  As 3V wind down, the first supply chain to dry up was the PS-2 3V with 5V connectors.  So when tech's order AE-15/16, MTH sends the PS-32 5V instead.

 

The PS-32 3V version has not been issued for replacement of PS-2 3V with 3V connectors yet since MTH still has AE-10/11 in stock.  But they did release it in the first PS-3 upgrade kits.  So it is around the corner.

 

Here is another piece of info that I was able to pick up.

 

As stated in a few post, it is designed for use with PS-2 3V sound files.  As the code in the PS-32 pickups the gear ratio and hardware data (light features, smoke control) from the PS-2 sound file.

 

PS-3 has it's own hardware table in the flash code specific to PS-3 engines.  What I found out is PS-3 sound files will work properly in PS-32 also, because by procedure, the sound file engineers still included the hardware table in the PS-3 sound file.  Even though PS-3 boards get the information from the firmware table.  You just load the sound file, not the flash code.

 

The one caveat is that gear ratio and lighting may not match for a specific engine.

 

If you load the specific file from your engine PS-2 upgrade file for PS-2 5V engines, or PS-2 3V for 3V engines you get the original sound file and characteristics.  Maybe some PS-3 kept that all the same, if so it would work.  Diesel ratio as an example seem to be the same.  But PS-3 lighting on diesels can be totally different from model to model because of the expanded lighting capability of PS-3.  G

 

 

Now I am not only bewildered, I am confused.  USed to be simple:  One upgrade kit for steam, one for diesel, and a third, available only for techs, to replace 5-volt boards.

 

Now it seems there are:

 

1. PS3 with connectors to replace PS2 5-volt boards ("3/2") techs only.  Will fit in steam locos that had boards in loco

 

2. PS3 with connectors to replace PS2 3-volt boards, techs only and not yet available.

 

3. PS3 steam upgrade kit with complete wiring, anyone can buy.  Has one board in tender and one in loco.

 

4. PS3 diesel upgrade kit with complete wiring, anyone can buy.  Not yet available.

 

1 & 2 are the same boards but with different plug-in boards on top,

 

Am I correct, or still befuddled?

Robert,

 

It's no more complicated than before:

1. PS3 with connectors to replace PS2 5-volt boards ("3/2") techs only.  Will fit in steam locos that had boards in loco

These replace the older 3 volt boards with 5 volt connectors that were only available to techs. These will go anywhere that the older PS2 3 volt boards with 5 volt connectors would go

 

2. PS3 with connectors to replace PS2 3-volt boards, techs only and not yet available.

These replace the older 3 volt boards with 3 volt connectors that were only available to techs, except where they were sold in the PS2 upgrade kits. These will go anywhere that the PS2 3 volt boards with 3 volt x=connectors would go

 

3. PS3 steam upgrade kit with complete wiring, anyone can buy.  Has one board in tender and one in loco.

Same deal as previous PS2 steam upgrade kit.

 

4. PS3 diesel upgrade kit with complete wiring, anyone can buy.  Not yet available.

Same deal as previous PS2 diesel upgrade kit.

 

1 & 2 are the same boards but with different plug-in boards on top,

Correct.

just for kicks guys:

everything RJR said ! ! ! !! 

hhaaa  hhhaaaaaaa

RJR, The PS-3 upgrade kit only has one PS-32 board for the tender.  No board in the engine.

 

I don't think MTH will say the PS-32 can always go in the engine.  Since only PS-2 5V had boards in the engine, the repair might require an upgrade like kit to put the board in the tender.

 

Frankly this has always been this way as far as boards.  AE-10/11 and 15/16 tech only (at higher cost), even though you could buy upgrade kit with AE-10/11 in it.  G

AE/10/11 what?

never even heard of this and im just watching, i gotta get some popcorn and a drink be right back ! ! ! !! 

is a 15/16 tech  1/16 short of a full tech?

im back with popcorn and my drink

GGG, the numbers "AE-10/11 and 15/16" are meaningless to me, not having a parts list.

Your statement "Since only PS-2 5V had boards in the engine, the repair might require an upgrade like kit to put the board in the tender." is interesting.  I have 2 steamers left with 5-volt boards, both in loco, and have 2 PS2 upgrade kits on the shelf which I acquired to replace them when needed.  MF had opined that if he were replacing an in loco 5-volt board, he'd opt for a re-do with board in tender.  Seems that that would be the way to go, so I'll just hold onto my kits.

 

Which then leaves the question, what does one do about marker and other lights in the loco when the board is moved into the tender?  I guess one way would be to install a CV board (with choke) and just leave the marker and firebox lights on all the time??????? Or add a relay onto the headlight circuit?????

 

I had been told by someone who should know that PS3 steam upgrade kits would have 2 boards, one in loco & one in tender.  I guess he erred????

Marty,

 

what is the average cost on the boards for upgrade or are they all over the map?

I've put a few 3V boards in the locomotive to replace the old cooked 5V board.  Unless you run into fit issues, I don't see doing the whole upgrade kit as an easier route.  Also, if you have a premier locomotive that has additional lighting options, you lose all those with an upgrade kit, you only get headlight control.