MTHTrains Premier P5-a User manual

PREMIER P5-a
ELECTRIC ENGINE
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
This Premier P5-a Electric engine has a Die Cast body and operates on any O-42 track
system. This Premier Diesel Engine contains state-of-the-art electronics with many
built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite these advanced
features, the locomotive is easy to operate with any compatible standard AC transformer
that is equipped with whistle and bell buttons (see the compatibility chart on page 18),
and is compatible with most other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories.
This locomotive is equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0 with Digital Command System
(DCS). This new system will allow you to operate your locomotive in Command mode
(when used with the DCS Remote Control System, sold separately) or Conventional
mode. Conventional operating features are described in the following pages, while the
DCS operating features are covered in the set of operating instructions that
accompanies the DCS equipment. Conventional Mode operation of this locomotive is
much simpler than operation of original Proto-Sound engines. For your own safety and
that of your equipment, please read the instructions before you operate this engine.

2
Premier P5-a Electric Engine
Table of Contents
Set Up 3
Basic Operation 4
Transformer Controls 4
Throttle 4
Volume Control 4
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operation 5
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features 5
Passenger Station Announcements (PSA) 6
Tips on Using PSA 7
Proto-Coupler®Operation 8
Speed Control 8
Lock into a Direction State 9
Reset to Factory Defaults 9
Automatic Sounds 9
Maintenance 10
Lubrication and Greasing Instructions 10
Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement 12
Locomotive Light Bulb Replacement 13
Self-Charging Battery Back-Up 14
Troubleshooting 15
Compatibility 17
Transformer Compatibility Chart 18
Additional Features with DCS Remote Control System 19
Safety Precautions 21
Service and Warranty Information 24

3
Premier P5-a Electric Engine
Set Up
Although the engine was lubricated at the factory, it is important that you
lubricate the chassis before operation. Lightly grease the outside idler and
drive gears (marked “G” in Fig. 6 on page 11) to prevent them from squeaking.
Use light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 5
on pg. 10. Do not over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point.
At this point, you are ready to put your engine on the track and begin running
it.

4
Premier P5-a Electric Engine
Throttle – Throttle up the power to your track. Give about 10-14 volts or
enough power so that the engine’s headlight shines brightly. Then put the
engine into motion by either firmly pressing the Direction button on your
transformer or remote once or dropping and advancing the throttle to put the
engine in forward.
Operation Buttons
Use the operation buttons on your transformer or remote as described below.
Horn/Whistle - To sound the horn, firmly press the Horn/Whistle button. The
horn will sound for as long as you continue to depress the button. It will stop
when you release the button. The horn has four different endings, depending on
whether you hold the button for less than three seconds, three seconds, four
seconds, or five seconds or longer.
Bell - To sound the bell, firmly press and release the Bell button. To turn the
bell off, press and release the Bell button again. The bell will continue to ring
from the time you turn it on until you press and release the button again to turn
it off.
Direction – Your train is programmed to start in neutral. The first direction
after neutral upon start-up is forward. Firmly press and release the Direction
button to allow the engine to move forward. Just as you must stop your
automobile between forward and reverse, this engine will not go directly from
forward to reverse; it goes into neutral between directions. If the train has been
moving forward, the first press of the Direction button will put the train from
forward into neutral, the second press into reverse, the third press back into
neutral, and the fourth back into forward. To prevent accidental high-speed
start-ups, this engine is programmed to restart in neutral each time the track
voltage is turned off for 25 seconds or more.
Volume Control –To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this engine,
turn the master volume control knob located under the engine clockwise to
increase the volume and counter-clockwise to decrease the volume (see Fig. 1).
Proto-Sound 2.0
Volume Adjustment Knob
Figure 1. Proto-Sound 2.0 Volume Adjustment Knob

5
Premier P5-a Electric Engine
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions
This manual contains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in
conventional mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode
features accompany the DCS Remote Control System equipment.
Because Proto-Sound 2.0 is an all-new system developed by M.T.H.’s own
research and development team, it operates differently from original
Proto-Sound. Most Proto-Sound 2.0 features are automatically enabled, and
the reset state has been eliminated, so there is no need to program features as
with original Proto-Sound. Although the new system is easier to operate than
original Proto-Sound, you should read these instructions thoroughly before
using Proto-Sound 2.0 features in order to prevent harm to yourself or your
equipment.
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features:
Proto-Sound 2.0 features are activated by sequences of Bell and Whistle
button pushes described below. Please read the full descriptions of each
feature before using it. To use these buttons to activate features rather than to
blow the whistle or ring the bell, you should press the buttons for a shorter
time (1/2 second); you may need to practice your timing to make this work
smoothly.
Feature to Be Activated:
PassengerStationAnnouncements
Fire the Rear Coupler
Fire the Front Coupler
Speed Control On/Off
Lock into a Direction/Unlock
Reset to Factory Defaults
Button Code:
1 Bell, 2 Whistles
1 Bell, 3 Whistles
1 Bell, 4 Whistles
1 Whistle, 2 Bells (from Neutral only)
1 Whistle, 3 Bells
1 Whistle, 5 Bells (from Neutral only)