MTH proto sounds

[wfa]

just bought a 30-1138 PRR k4 it came without any paper work. Can someone tell me how to get the passenger station sounds to work? I have no ideal what any sequence of operation is.

[dougdagrump]

Here's a link to the owner's manual on the MTH website,

http://www.mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/download/instruction/30st13820i.pdf

Just click on the link and you can print out the whole thing.

[wfa]

thank you for the information

[wfa]

I have gone through the owners manual several times trying to get the station announcements I just can 't seem to get them working the engine has proto sounds I hear the brake squeal, the steam blow off and all but no announcement. can anyone give me some help?

[Firelock76]

I it's a Proto-Sound 2 like mine it should work like this:

Initially, you have to push the bell and whistle buttons on your transformer in the following manner,,

"Bell, whistle, whistle" at approximately one-second intervals.  I say "approximately" because it takes a little practice to get it right.  This should start the sound and voice sequence.  After that you push the direction button to stop the train, then any further sounds in the sequence are triggered by the whistle button. 

The last sound sequence, on mine anyway, is "Conductor's givin' us the highball signal!  Let's get down the line!"  and then the train starts rolling again.

It goes without saying you need a modern transformer to make all this happen.  An older transformer with only a whistle button or lever and no bell button isn't going to work.  As I've been told MTH locomotives prefer MTH transformers that's what I use.  I've used a Lionel CW-80 transformer to make it all happen but I've heard bad things about 'em concerning MTH products so I don't use 'em except with Lionel engines.

[phillyreading]

If you have a PS-2 or PS-3 engine all sounds should be accessible with the full DCS command control system. Otherwise try using an MTH Z-1000 or a Z-4000. You need a recent MTH transformer with both whistle and bell features. A Lionel transformer won't do for MTH sounds to be accessed.

[wfa]

Thank you all who replied> I don't think it is PS-2 or PS-3 it says on the box just Proto Sounds that being said I am not sure I will try the sequence explained. Maybe that will work. I have ordered the DCS remote commander maybe this will help. And thanks again to all who responded.

[phillyreading]

If it is PS-1 that is mainly a sound system with remote control uncoupling feature on the engine or tender or both. PS-1 won't work with any command control system, it's just a sound system. DCS remote commander won't do what the full priced DCS command control (about $325.00 hand held remote and TIU) will do.

[Firelock76]

OK, my experience with MTH products doesn't go back that far but if it's just Proto Sounds and not PS 2 or 3 you may not have all the sound options available now anyway, just locomotive noises, bell and whistle.

Possibly someone else can advise you, but I'd hold off spending any more money until you find out for certain.

 

[wfa]

Well I am getting frustrated with myself. Yes this engine has proto sounds with passenger station announcements. I called MTH and talked to a technician who was able to walk me through the procedures to get the PSA to work. I was so impressed with this. I thanked him and hung the phone up. Then I tried to get them to work but oh no this dummy is right back to where I started. The technician had me go through this series of things to do with the direction button but I can't get this engine to do what it is supposed to do. If any one out there has one of these engines and know how tom get the PSA to function and would like to help please let me know.

[lionelsoni]

This is where I was when I gutted my MTH locomotives and put in rectifiers and electromechanical e-units.

[phillyreading]

I have a PS-1 engine by MTH and when it's circuit board fails or whatever it's going to get a bridge rectifier installed in it. OK, so I will lose direction control, but at least it will work!

[lionelsoni]

No need to go unidirectional.  Just put in a regular old e-unit.  If there's not enough room to mount it vertically, use the horizontal version with the spring inside.  Put it downstreem of the bridge rectifier.  Connect the (blue and yellow) wires that would have been used for the brushes of a universal motor to the two DC-motor wires.  Connect the (green) wire that would have been used for the field to the DC common.

[rrlineman]

if the e-unit/sound board dies, I would check out DALLEE in LANCASTER PA or QSI from Wash St. they have boards and sound systems that should work fine .

[riverrailfan]

It is very simple. After reading the directions it is the same as my diesels for freight yard sounds. If you have a bell button, run the engine in the direction you want it at the speed you want. Press and hold the bell button for 3 seconds. I always listen for the air release when holding the bell button. Once you ear the air release it is in passenger station sounds and release the bell button. press the bell button  to stop the bell. Press the direction button to stop the engine in neutral and the passenger station sounds will play. Pressing the direction button should sequence through the different passenger station sounds. Usually the fouth time will start the engine( diesel is this way). The whistle will sound 2 times(maybe as I have one diesel that sounds bell only) and ring the bell and start in the same direction you were running before you stopped. If you were in reverse before you stopped it will start again in reverse. If you don't have a bell button. Place the engine in neutral and set throttle under 8 volts and press and hold the whistle button till you hear air release. Press direction button and the next time you go to neutral you will get the sounds. If you never hear the air release, you will have to do a factory reset as it probably got switched off.

[lionelsoni]

"It is very simple."

It couldn't be simpler.  Well, maybe 239 words simpler....;-)

[wfa]

Sorry I do not understand your post.

[wfa]

Thank you I will give this a try.

[riverrailfan]

Simple till you have to do a engine reset.

 

I run my Protos all the time. No issues

[wfa]

I want to thank all who have tried to help me get the station announcements to work but I have to give a big thank you to riverrailfan who got me to correct sequence so I can hear the station announcements. riverrailfan you sure made it easy for me. Thank you so very much.