Thinking of buying an MTH small locomotive

You can us a number of features in conventional control for PS/3, I refer you to the MTH 44-Ton User's Manual.  Start on page #8 for conventional control using a standard transformer.  Note that the transformer must have both bell and horn controls to use most of these features.

No battery, PS/3 uses built-in supercaps.

I don't believe you can manually trigger individual crew talk sequences, but you do have access to the PFA mode that goes through a pre-programmed sequence.  The PFA operation is described on page 10 of the manual above.

John:

Thanks so much for the speedy and informative reply!

One other question: Since I will be controlling the locomotive using my Legacy controller:

Power will be provided to the track using my PWC ZW with 135 Watt bricks attached and the track where the locomotive will run will have voltage manually controlled by the Cab 2, should I expect the horn and bell buttons on the Cab 2 to operate the horn and bell on the locomotive and also be able to activate the features as described on page 9 of the manual you referenced?

Thanks!

Best regards,

Stan

Yes, the ZW-Controller being operated in TMCC mode will simulate the whistle and bell buttons from the CAB2.

Thanks again!

Yes to bell and whistle, but typically the Lionel ZW and PM can't respond fast enought to operate the functions like coupler or PFA.  Too much of a delay inbetween strokes.  G

Might have to use the transformer handles for those functions.

@GGG posted:

Yes to bell and whistle, but typically the Lionel ZW and PM can't respond fast enought to operate the functions like coupler or PFA.  Too much of a delay inbetween strokes.  G

GGG,

The original PowerMasters had a delay issue.  All of the newer ones, i.e. TPC's marketed by Lionel and not IC Controls (unless Lou Kovach updated yours in the field), and Legacy PowerMasters, have what's called "Fast Horn" and "Fast Bell", and also several other PS2.0/3.0 Specific functions:

If I recall, the ZW-C's and ZW-L also have these features.

Mike

Still sounds promising! Thanks to all for your help.

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

@stangtrain posted:

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

Congratulations! From my experience with MTH 44-tonners, I expect you will like this locomotive. Hope you enjoy it. I started with Lionel 72 years ago...

MELGAR

Nice little engine. I have two New Haven.

@stangtrain posted:

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it. I’m glad you “crossed over”

@stangtrain posted:

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

Enjoy your new engine.

Might I suggest adding a DCS commander to your layout? It gives you access to the basic DCS functions directly through a small remote control. I added one recently and it works great.

RSJB18: Thanks for the suggestion of the DCS Remote Commander.

I had looked into this but since I will be using my Legacy controller to raise and lower track voltage for conventional running and also be able to use the horn and bell functions, I did not think much would be added using controller. I will not be running any other locomotive on the same loop of track, so conventional seems okay so far. Of course I haven't received the locomotive yet, so it is good to know this is an option.

I was wondering though how to connect wires to and from the transmitter without using the connectors from noted MTH devices in the instructions. Are there adaptors to make wiring easier? Without having one in front of me, it is hard to tell what would be involved.

Thanks!

Stan

Stan- I was equally perplexed when I bought mine but they can be wired in "passive mode", which simply means take a pair of wires from the terminals to your track buss.

The RC will work like a charm.

They were designed for RTR sets so the power ran through the RC from a Z750 to the track.

They work just fine in passive and don't affect Legacy signal as far as I know.

I wired mine through a switch so I can turn it off when not needed.

One additional note, the remote uses an infrared signal direct line of sight between the remote and receiver is required.

Bob

They work in passive mode, but for maximum track signal strength, you need a 22uh inductor on the transformer feed to the track so it doesn't dilute the DCS signal.  Obviously, that choke has to be able to handle the current for the running train and cars.

Great info John. My small layout doesn't loose signal. I'm sure larger ones can have issues.

@RSJB18 posted:

Enjoy your new engine.

Might I suggest adding a DCS commander to your layout? It gives you access to the basic DCS functions directly through a small remote control. I added one recently and it works great.

Bob,

I am running my PS3 subway set with a KW transformer (and external bell/horn button) using the commands described in the manual for the PS3 functions.  Do you think a DCS Remote commander would make that easier using my KW?

If so, where did you get yours?

Thanks,

John

@Craftech posted:

Bob,

I am running my PS3 subway set with a KW transformer (and external bell/horn button) using the commands described in the manual for the PS3 functions.  Do you think a DCS Remote commander would make that easier using my KW?

If so, where did you get yours?

Thanks,

John

I run a KW. Works just fine. I bought mine from a forum member.