MTH locos using conventional control

[rogruth]

First, let me thank all for the informative and useful answers.
After reading all it seems that MTH locos, except PS-1 types, work well conventionally and that most problems come from the use of DCS.
Please correct me if this is wrong.

[Neil]

PS-1 locos only operate in conventional mode, and they generally operate well. They have more quirks and have had more problems than simpler conventional (E-unit) locos or TMCC locos in conventional mode, in my experience. Then again, PS-1 is an older, less refined control system
than TMCC or subsequent MTH systems (PS-2 and PS-3), so expectations have to be lower to be fair.

[chuck]

Early MTH locos were sold with just DCRU's and a whistle/horn board. These work well, period. PS-1 works until something goes wrong and the engine locks up (has to do with the battery and the way PS-1 uses "semaphore" signals to control the train, aka DC pulses and voltage swings). PS-2 and 3 offer additional features in terms of sound and control that work well in conventional and they do not lock up the PS-1 can. A PS-2 or 3 board works until it doesn't and then repairs become problematic. Most of the issues were actually with DCS, either directly from signalling problems or from running at high constant voltage and the potential issue from spikes/shorts.

[rogruth]

So MTH locos previous to PS-1 are OK. How does one know that a loco is pre PS-1?
PS-2 works OK conventionally and PS-3 is best conventionally.
Are MTH locos marked to identify this?
E-unit locos work best conventionally of all types.
Do I have this about right?

I realize that there are some that may take exception to the above.
Thanks to all for your input.

[Roy]

If I found an attractive MTH engine at a can't-pass-up price, I'd buy it. They all have DC motors, so all they need to run on a conventionally controlled AC layout is a full-wave bridge rectifier and some sort of reverse unit. If reversing isn't important, you can even dispense with the reverse unit.

[chuck]

PS-1 has a PS-1 label on it. I think the item number for the loco (box laboel) has a "1" for a suffix while a DCRU unit has a "0".

Most Premier stuff was PS-1 unless you ordered DCRU. It was assumed you would want the extra "features". I only purchased stuff with DCRU's as I did not want to fight with PS-1 (early stuff would also not play nice with Lionel PowerMasters) and I replaced the DCRU with TMCC as soon as the warranty expired. When PS-2 was released I only bought "LocoSounds" and gutted those almost immediately. That was the worst sound system ever released for toy trains.

[rogruth]

Thanks, Chuck.
It is getting a little clearer or less hazy to me.