using test jig to update sound file?

one other question, I've read that when upgrading to PS 2  3 volt its wise to use the harness from a 5 volt system, Why, what are the advantages?  Thanks

Regards,

joe Geiser

Joe,

 

I do that all the time.

Yes it can, and MTH Recommends Techs do it that way.  The test set is a known entity and you load the board without any of the issues that may exist in the original engine.  Also you can see all the features available from the sound file, since the test board has all the bells and whistles (Lights/MARS/Ditch).  If the sound file features are not what you want, you can try other files.

 

When replacing a PS2 5V system, it is best to order a PS-2 3V board with 5V connectors.  The wire harness connectors are different between 5V and 3V.  This way you don't have to order new harnesses.  For a diesel, replacing with an upgrade kit would be the way to go since it has everything included and prices out cheaper.  Remember, steam upgrades are limited by the 10 pin harness, so you can't get all the features that a Steam engine with the board in the engine has, or an engine with MUX boards.  In those cases the 3V with 5V allows all the original systems except battery/charger port and speaker to remain in place.  G

I need to clarify my previous post. I was responding to your first post, not your second post. Regarding using the 5 volt test fixture harness for testing a standard 3 volt board, the answer is absolutely NO! However, the 5 volt harness MUST be used if connecting the 3 volt board that has 5 volt headers. In that case, you would connect all of the 5 volt fixture leads except the one for the battery. You would, instead, connect the 3 volt harness's battery lead.

Barry and G thanks for the info. My conerns about the harness is that I get one that can handle backup lights and marker lights in the tender as well as headlamp and marker lights in the boiler. I want to add lighted number boards to this challenger as well and hope that the 5 volt harness can accomodate it. Please advise.

thanks again.

Regards,

Joe Geiser

Barry,  He was not talking about using the 5V harness on the tester.  He was talking about the engine.

 

Joe, the upgrade Stm kit is set up for a board in the tender with harness in the engine.

 

Because the board is in the tender and the kit comes with red marker LED lights, you do get a backup light and marker lights for the tender.

 

The problem is on the engine side.  There are only 10 wires available for the engine.  2 for motor, 3 for tach, 4 for smoke and 2 for headlight, and 2 bring power from the pickups and frame back to the tender.  Total of 13 wires required.  A common + voltage is shared between Tach reader and fan, and a common purple wire + voltage is shared between headlight and smoke element.  When you do the math you realize 11 wires need.  They cheat by using 2 diodes taking power off the motor leads to a 11th terminal on the engine PCB to provide the positive voltage for the 11th wire.

 

This means that the only option is a headlight on the engine.  So your best bet with an engine with a lot of features is replacing the 5V board with a 3V board, to keep the original wiring.  G 

GGG, No, in his first post he was discussing using the test fixture. In his second post, my answer was appropriate regardless of whether the harness is in the engine or the test fixture.

I've done it a bunch of times. Especially when I do an upgrade. It works fine, never had a problem.

Barry and G,

     Sorry for the confusion, maybe this will help. I have 1996 RK 1107 Challenger, it came with a DCRU and whistle only. I want to upgrade this to PS 2 using a PS 2   3volt board I salvaged from another steam engine. My question is what wiring harness and tether do I need to  accomplish the following. Backup light and marker lights in the tender, proto smoke, headlight, marker lights and lighted number boards in the boiler. This is a custom upgrade and these are the features my son wanted, this will be his engine when its done, a father son project. He finally got intersted in trains when he saw this engine. Hope this clears up things a little and that you guys can help me pull this off. Thanks

Regards,

Joe Geiser

Joe,  Does this engine have a Constant Voltage board in it?  As my post above stated you can get the features in the tender, but only one lighted feature in the engine controlled by DCS.

 

Your options are using a CV board powered from the track using the inductor and powering headlight, marker, cab light, firebox etc....  These will be on constantly when track power is applied.  If you use a CV board you use 6V bulbs.  If you use track power use 18V bulbs.

 

If you look at the steam upgrade inst, they have the part # for the harness you need.  You do need to use 3V harness because of the connectors that plug into the board, and the battery charging harness which is different.

 

Do you still have that board without sound?  I will take it if available.

 

G

Barry, A mute point, but Yes.  His first post was about using the test fixture, no mention of which harness.  In his second post he was talking about doing PS-2 3V engine upgrades and that is where he mentioned 5V harness.  There never was a mention of 5V harness on the test fixture.

 

I think it is important to clarify there are PS-2 3V boards that use 5V harnesses.  They just don't come in upgrade kits.  They are used to repair engines that already had PS-2 5V systems.   G

 

 

GGG, I'm fully aware of the various species of PS2 boards. The point is that to test a 3 volt board with 5 volt headers, one uses the 5 volt harness with the 3 volt harness' battery lead.

Gentlemen,

     G, no the engine did not have a CV board and Barry, I am not using an upgrade kit. I have a good PS 2  3volt board w/ a sound  file on it, I plan on using this in the challenger. What I need to know is  what I have to buy from MTH to complete the engine with the functions listed in my previous post. Didn't mean to start a war of words here, guess I just don't know enough to even ask the right questions. Your help is appreciated.

Regards,

Joe Geiser

 

PS

 G, I will look for that board and when I  find it you cane have it.

Joe, Just friendly word banter at least from my end.  Does your engine have markers now? If so how are they powered?

 

If not, the only way to add them is as I discuss above, but your best bet is an after market CV board or make one.

 

Look at the Steam instructions and they show the parts with Stock number.

 

You need the engine harness, tender harness, IC-0000023 Stm kit(Bracket, battery, charge harness and speaker), the headlight/reverse bulbs, tender marker, and one electrocoupler.  If mounting a CV board, get the inductor also.

 

I have all these available at the shop if you want to avoid the wait from MTH. E-mail in profile.  G

G, The engine has marker lights powered by an incandescent lamp (screw in type) mounted on the smoke unit, I'm guessing it was powered by track current. I have the batterey bracket and charging port and batterey. I will buy a different speaker, a Peerless 4 ohm full range speaker, Rod from this forum recommended it, has better sound than the MTH one. I also have the correct electro coupler to go with this board. All  I need is the engine and tender harness, new white marker lights and new headlight and maybe red marker light for the tender if I can find the marker lamps to fit, orgininally didn't have marker lights in the tender. One thing I did notice with  the board I have, on the test jig everything works, but once you bring the motor up to speed it doesn't hold there, will speed up the chuff sound by itself for a bit and then settle back to where it was, any ideas??

     I will purchase what I need from you, probably easier than going to MTH. Just so we can wind this thread down as it  doesn't help anyone else at this point, use my email  address for future corresspondence.

     I  found  the old board, send me your address and I'll send it to you.

Regards,

Joe  Geiser