Skip to main content

5 replies

??? REGARDING PS2 BOARDS

RO Ray of sunshineOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

First of all, I am NOT an electrical engineer, so if I use wrong terminology, please excuse me. Also, I have not disassembled any PS2 engines as yet, so don't know what's inside. 

 

All questions relate to PS2 only:

 

Can I assume that there are 2 MAIN boards in each engine: one that controls the motors, smoke, lights, etc and another one that controls the sound. I know there may be additional boards for lights, etc but I am not interested in that for now.

 

So if there are 2 MAIN boards, can one assume (I hate to assume) that a control board for one engine might be the same for another - say a control board for an F3 might be the same as for a switcher or even a steam engine.

 

If the sound board is not specifically programmed to a specific control board, could a sound board for a 0-8-0 be used in a 4-8-4 or better yet, if the control board only provides power to the sound board, could one install a 2-8-2 sound board into an F3 - ya it's way out but that's not the point of my questions. Just want to know if one can swap out sound boards between engines - assuming the connections are the same.

 

I ask because of 2 reasons:

 

The very first MTH engine I purchased a few years ago is the Railking 0-8-0. At the time, I thought it sounded great. But since I have bought several other steam engines. The whistle on the 0-8-0 is very toy like (it's a PS2) - and I HATE IT! So I never run it. I would like to install a better sound board, one with updated and more realistic sound. 

 

Reason 2 for the above questions, I keep reading about PS2 boards going bad from time to time. So if I were to upgrade or convert one of my PS2 engines with something else, PS3 or EER, could I use the control board as a back up should one fail in one of my other PS2 engines?

 

Thanks

RAY

 

 

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Barry BroskowitzBarry BroskowitzOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Robert,

 

Some corrections are in order.

All 3-volt PS2 boards (except subway) are the same, and interchangeable.

That should be subways and articulated engines, and electric engines with operating pantographs. Some No. 1 gauge PS2 5 volt boards may also be different.

All of the old obsolete 5-volt boards are interchangeable (don't recall if they had subway boards under 5-volt).

Again, subways and articulated are different.

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
Marty FitzhenryMarty FitzhenryOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Remember guys when the first 3 volt processor board came out it was a 1 meg (1X) board.  Those were around for a few years in both production locomotives and upgrade kits.  The 2 meg board started showing up in the spring of 2007.  The PS-2 upgrade kits started using the 2 meg (2X) board at that time also.  If you are uncertain if you have the older board or the 2 meg board, look for the word (maker) SHARP on the large chip on the bottom of the processor board.  The 3 volt  (top) power board is the same for both bottom boards.

 

2X Sharp
Last edited by Marty Fitzhenry
RiverrailfanRiverrailfanOGR Forum Member

"The very first MTH engine I purchased a few years ago is the Railking 0-8-0. At the time, I thought it sounded great. But since I have bought several other steam engines. The whistle on the 0-8-0 is very toy like (it's a PS2) - and I HATE IT! So I never run it. I would like to install a better sound board, one with updated and more realistic sound."

 

You should be able to download a different sound file to your engine. These guys will be able to instruct you better than I can. 

G GGGOGR Forum Member

Ray, Your PS-2 boards are integrated boards.  So if you don't like the sound file in it, you can change to another that may work better for you.  There are some caveats though.

 

The older boards PS-2 5V (one piece board) that use the 8.4V battery (looks like a 9V) can only be loaded with a PS-2 5V sound file.


You also want to keep a similar engine type otherwise the speed control might not be the same.  Engine may run faster or slower at a set speed.

 

So by keeping to a similarly sized engine 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 or 0-8-0 the speed would probably be close.

 

The more common and newer board is the PS-2 3V.  This is a two piece board using the AA style 2.4V battery.  But it does operate as an integrated board.

 

For this type you also load a new sound file, you just use the newer 3V sound file, or you can use the "Upgraded" Sound file.   The upgrade file is just a PS-2 5V sound file converted to work with the new 3V format.  Same caveat apply to picking a sound file.

 

So it really is just a matter of loading a new sound file until you find one you like.   G

Add Reply

Views: 240
Post
The DCS Forum is sponsored by

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×