ps3 upgrade kit

YOU DO NOT WANT TO UPGRADE.  The correct repair for this engine with the 5V Board in the engine, is to install the PS-32 board with 5V connectors into the engine.  Otherwise you lose all lighting features and control of those lights in the engine.  Premier engines have more lights and that is why board was put in engine.  10 pin harness restricts you to one control feature in the engine, let alone all the problems you will have trying to fit the upgrade harness on the engine shell.  Take a look at how the engine is wired.  It is not a direct replacement.  G

George is correct about using the 3/2 board.  It will be easier in the end.

To answer your questions about running lights in parallel:

I never favored using the CV board when doing upgrades. (your engine doesn't have one).  I always run the extra lights off of the headlight circuit.  I solder together a 3 way split harness.  Install a resistor for the marker light plug and you are good to go.

Thanks for the info.  I have already installed the ps3 upgrade kit in the tender.   As was stated, the hardware would not allow it to be in the engine.   I will just put the firebox and cab lights on a voltage regulator the track power feeds.  They will be on all the time.  The green marker lamps will be in parallel with the headlight.   As for the backup light in the engine,   I have to either run a couple of extra wires to the tender to parallel the backup light or design a circuit that turns on the engine backup light when the headlight is off and the engine is moving in reverse.

EJC

How are you mounting the engine harness PCB to the shell?  How will you take the shell apart for maintenance?

All PS-2 bulbs are 6V.  As Alan said the tender harness in the upgrade kit has the green molex wire for the reverse light.  Also has the black for coupler.

It is a shame you went this way, but it is your engine.  If you did a search you would see this had been discussed before on the forum.  I am probably up over 12 FEF repairs. 

It is always a smart move to listen to guys like Dave and George (GGG) when looking for upgrade advice.  What they told you is correct information.  

Thank you George, Dave, Marty.  I have read a lot of posts about the PS2/3 kit, but it just didn't sink in until now.  I have a couple engines with PS2 5 volt boards.  I'm fine leaving them as is, but when one or both quit working, now I understand why the PS2/3 board.  

Thank you EJc for posting your questions.  I'm sorry you didn't find this information first.

Is the PS 3/2 upgrade kit available to people like me that want to do their own upgrades? What is the part number for the steam kits?

Thanks for the info about the bulbs being 6V.  I now can put a regulator in the engine shell for them and run off of track power.

GGG asked,  how are you mounting the engine harness PCB to the shell?  How will you take the shell apart for maintenance?

I used the original engine pcb that was  in the engine.  The engine pcb that comes with the ps3 upgrade kit will not allow the tender tether connector to be engaged to the engine connector because is sits to far into the hole for the tether when mounted.  It also provides no easy way for the engine shell to be removed for maintenance because the shell cannot be completely separated from the wheel base due to wires with no connectors.

So I removed the original ps2 wiring  from the original pcb tether board in the engine and soldered the motor, tack reader, power pickup, smoke unit and headlight wires to it for PS3 upgrade kit.  As for the diodes that are on the ps3 upgrade kit, they were soldered to the wires and heat shrinked since they could not be placed on the original engine  tether pcb.  I put some pictures in this post so show it.  The wire management is not quite done yet.

I get the feeling that there is a dislike for the ps3 upgrade kit.   Is it because it is not a direct fit and doesn't have all the control lighting features or is it prone to failure?  It wasn't that hard for me to do what I did to make it work in the engine.  MTH informed me that there was a replacement board for this engine, but was only available to certified techs.   This might be the PS-32 board.  I wanted to do the repair myself so that's why I got the upgrade kit.  It's been a lot of fun doing it.  The best part about it was there was no smoke when first powered up.  It worked!

EJC

Congratulations EJC!!

Always a good idea to check with the folks who do these upgrade/conversions.   We do network with each other.  I currently have 191 DCS upgrades under my belt  and that does not count PS-32 boards installed.  George (GGG), Dave,  and John probably have more.  The three of us are MTH Tech guys.  We have access to information not given to the public.  I am not looking for work as I am buried but would advise anyone looking to get an engine upgraded to contact George, Dave, John, or any  MTH tech that does this work.

There is not a dislike for the kit, but my point was original PS-2 engines should be repaired as original.  PS-2 5V steam especially premier, had the boards in the engine to benefit from direct wiring for all the various lights a premier engine has.  Without being limited by the 10 wires of the harness.  Later 5V and 3V used a mux board to gain additional engine feature.  PS-3 Steam has 2 boards, one in tender and one in engine a data line tells the boiler board what to do.

Plus retaining the ability to easily do maintenance.  The original harness in the FEF allows the shell to be disconnected from the chassis. 

You could have taken the 3V connectors off the Upgrade kit board, put your 5V connectors on the PS-32 board, and then installed it where the 5V came out.  Replace speaker, and remove battery connection and left everything else alone.  Just the mechanical work of mounting the new board.  G

What is the part number for the PS 32 upgrade kit?  As a MTHRRC member, or whatever it is called, what is the price?

thanks

50-1911 & 50-1912

Thanks Matt.  Are those the PS 32 kits?  Can I buy them as a consumer from MTH?

tony