PS3 upgrade information.

John, I was just about to post the same thing. The Bantam I did I put in the boiler and it was TIGHT and I had to get creative with the wiring.

John, how did you handle front marker lights on the loco when you put the replacement board into the tender/

If an upgrade has markers, I either leave the CV board they run from, or if that's not there, a resistor and diode to track power.

Yes, these were original 5V with boards in the engine.  That is usually the harder replacement with a non original board.

 

If I go that route RJR, I feed the engine markers off the headlight circuit with a limiting resistor.  Works fine and they don't come on until engine is started up.

 

While there looks to be plenty of room at the base and length, you start running out of real estate at the top.  Narrows and looses height.  Plus you are trying to match up to existing threaded holes.  G

GGG, so you add the 2 markers to the headlight circuit.  What size resiator do you use?  I assume the headlight xircuit can handle the 2 marker bulbs in the PS2 upgrade kit?

No problem adding the load of a couple of LED's to the bulb circuit, I've seen three or four incandescent bulbs on lighting circuits on factory installations.  The bulbs draw more than LED's...  I'd use a 330 or 370 ohm resistor, and maybe even larger.  I don't like the markers to be brighter than the headlights, so I tend to tone them down.

 

john when you add the resisters for lighting led's dov you use 1/4 watt or half watt?

Alan

It has been awhile sinc I dug into an upgrade kit.  Were the markers leds or grain of wheat?

PS2 upgrade kit markers are 2mm ceramic LED's.

 

Alan, I use 1/4w resistors, there's rarely a need for more power dissipation.  I also tend to try to string them in series whenever I can to minimize the power dissipation of the resistor.

 

I use a 150 ohm resistor and convert the markers to series if they are not already series.  150 is what MTH used on PS-1 6V CV boards.  All PS-2 markers are series.

Works fine.  G

Ok, Here is the install in a PS-2 5V FA-2 ABA.  Tight between motor and smoke, so I had to mount board sideways. Used the original PS-2 5V bracket which screws in from the bottom of the chassis (Good).  Bent it up vertical and used it to heat sink the rectifier.   G

Is there any word on when the consumer PS3 upgrade kits will be shipping?

Last I heard was June for the steam kits, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

George, that was a tight one.  Good move.  John, when 

Jeff did the service updates, did you request any kits?

I didn't, are they available?  I still have a couple of the PS/2 kits.

Some were sent to the tech guys who requested them.  My best information is they will be ready for July.  The public can buy them then also.  MTH is still keeping the PS3 2 board to replace 5 and 3 volt boards to tech only.  I will not buy and sell these to people unless I am the person who does the installation.  I still have many 5 volt boards running around the layout.  

 

The kit is the same except no battery or wiring that goes with it.  You can do one in your sleep John.  

Since they're using the "replacement" board, I figured the kits would be very similar.  I've used some of the PS/32 boards for 5V replacements, but I still have a few spare 3V boards that I can use as well.

 

I wonder what is holding up the diesel upgrade, maybe it's the extra stuff like pantographs?

 

the last i heard from mth i had ordered 2 ps2 3 volt steam kits but they did not get as many as they thought they would , so i was called after i placed the original order and they said they would mail me a ps 3 kit in it's place since ps 2 3 volt kits where no longer available. Midge told me that the ps3 kits would be shipped in June 2015!

Alan

What are the MTH part #s for the PS3 upgrade kits?

 

Thanks.