  The quality of two different separable expansion methods ({\sl W} matrix and
Ernst-Shakin-Thaler) is investigated. We compare the triton binding energies
and components of the triton wave functions obtained in this way with the
results of a direct two-dimensional treatment. The Paris, Bonn {\sl A} and Bonn
{\sl B} potentials are employed as underlying two-body interactions, their
total angular momenta being incorporated up to $j \leq 2$. It is found that the
most accurate results based on the Ernst-Shakin-Thaler method agree within 1.5%
or better with the two-dimensional calculations, whereas the results for the
{\sl W}-matrix representation are less accurate.
