Question about MTH Premier Challenger

You can install LED's in place of incandescent bulbs in a PS/2 environment by use of a 220 ohm resistor in series with the LED.  The purple lead is the positive lead, the LED is polarity sensitive.

If the locomotive doesn't have lighted number boards, I don't know if you can add them easily.

Gunrunnerjohn thank you for your answer.

In this engine, there is only one incandescent bulb for red and white lighting and I want to install two LEDS, one red and one white. That’s why I want to know when the red LED should light up. Only when the engine is moving forward or backward or both.

Thank you.

Marc.

 I can't help with the class lights other than to say that I believe you are mostly correct. The red light on the rear is to show the end of the train if alone ( last car) I believe?

https://mthtrains.com/20-3090-1

It's from 2002.   it has the older PS2 5 volt boards? 

When you ask about the number boards, do you mean to order the actual parts from MTH? I would think they'd have something that could work.

I don't have any experience with the older 5 volt PS2 to know what circuits are active. I believe there'd be enough for markers and number boards. I think to save tether wires they were powered from a small aux board in the boiler?

 Maybe G can help.

https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/20st11682i.pdf

the instructions show bulbs for the number boards on page 15 I believe?

"The locomotive’s lights are controlled by a constant voltage circuit in the engine. "

Hello engineer-joe,

Yes, it’s one old PS2 5V board but the engine is new, never run and the board works perfectly.

I installed the LEDs and everything works but I'm not sure of the lighting sequence.

« When you ask about the number boards, do you mean to order the actual parts from MTH? »

Yes

Maybe I can install two illuminated number boards if I can find it.

All PS3 Challenger have illuminated number boards.

There are plenty of circuits for the rear markers that would light up all the time, and also the reverse light.  As far as LED's, see my previous post about the 220 ohm resistor.  However, the marker light outputs are already current limited for LED's, but they usually wire two LED's in series, so I'd still stick a resistor in there.

If you buy the illuminated number boards and can fit them, you may have to tap off the headlight for them, or perhaps the flickering firebox output.  Worst come to worst, you can also just power them from track power.  In the user's manual for the 2002 model, they mention running the lights off a CV board.  Those typically can have outputs for extra lighting, you may have to add a Molex socket to plug in the number boards if it's equipped with the CV board.

Where is board located.  To do what you want, the Red light would be feed off HL circuit.  This can be done if board in tender.  The Reverse light as normal.  So 2 bulbs or in this case LEDs on the Front Light circuit.  Similar to what the FEF does if I remember correctly except it is on the front of engine.  G

John and G many thanks for your help.

Front led : perfect

Backup LED : perfect

Backup Red LED : 12 PIN / Front Headlight : stay on all the time as soon as I put the power on the tracks, I don’t know why.

G I hope you are well, I have a parcel for you.

Marc.

That has a mux, so the HL blue goes to it.  Looks like a jumper from the HL at 12 pin also goes to this red LED on the Tender rear.  You say it comes on as soon as power applied to track, or after you press startup?  If soon as power applied and you can't turn on and off, the Forward HL FET is shorted on the board.  G