I just noticed in this Sunday Photo Fun Frank 53 noticed that Buckeye R. had two photos with the infa-red motion dectors in them. I too have two of those detectors on my layout that are connected to two mainline auto crossings. I have been trying to get this system to work since Christmas with no luck. I have gotten the flashing lights to come on on the gates but I havent yet got lucky enough to get the gates to open and close with the use of the infar-red detectors. Has anyone else had this problem with this equipment? I contacted Lionel about this problem and they advised me to use the wiring diagram on page 14 of the 153 IR manual. I am about ready to trash that whole system and try and go with a simplier system. I am using fastrack and I have bought the relay and the dieiode tdhat they recommend and still nothing. This wiring diagram is a night mare. Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.
Tex,
I’m not hands-on familiar with the Lionel Infrared systems, but I have used the MTH ITADs a couple of times. I recommend that you use alligator jumpers and get the wiring to work on a bench if you can.
Are you wiring the gate up so the lights come on and the gate drops at the same time, all from one Infra-red trigger? The sensors of the Lionel units must be much better than the MTH ITADs. I was having a lot of problems with the ITADs not sensing the car in front of it and would not trip. I bypassed the photo units and took that relay input directly to an isolated ground section.
Wes
About 4 years ago freind that has hobby shop gave me to hook up for him the infer red senser and the crossing gates with lights. I did it but took me 2 tries as I had some wires back wards but had to read the instructions twice and seemed there were instructions for just the gates and then gates and lights or something like that but don’t remember but I do remember doing it and crawing under his table a few times i hooked right up to the transformer if I remember correctly. Sorry I can’t help but I know it can be done
http://rmdtoytrains.org/ProductReviews/Lionel_153IR_Review.pdf
This page provides a brief introduction into the Lionel 153IR unit.
What crossing gate do you have?
Wes
Wes I m using two 153IR so I can detect a train coming in both directions. I am using Lionels 6-14098 Mainline Crossing Gates. I am going to o with the alligator clips as suggested. I am trying to get the units working on the work bench before I put them on the table. I mean to tell you there are 100 and one wires that need to be conneced.
Have you adjusted and played with the delay and sensitivity adjustments ? My problem I had was too much room light … had to cover my older MTH sensors with a wooden scratch built cover to keep light off the eye … with a opening towards the track . And I found MTH crossings worked much better … are you using the older lionel ones ?
Yes I have played with the sensitivity adjustments. It makes no difference. Too much light? Now I havent thought about that. I have already taken them apart and maybe next weekend I will feel like getting disappointed again and try it once more.
When the Infar-red detectors are working properly, should I see any kind of light coming from them?
no, the infra-red detectors are just sensors. The lionel model might have some led or something, not sure. You don’t need it though. You should hear the relay click/engage for a set amount of time, then release. Also make sure that you set them for aux power. Attach it to the bench and dial in the sensitivity and relay hold.
I would absolutely make sure that the gate works correctly first. That’s where the jumpers come in. run power and ground and touch the tigger to the ground and the gate should drop, right? Once you know it works, then add in the unknowns…
My MTH realtrax ITADs worked fine when I fired them across the track and into a corner, but not from the corner to the open room. I didn’t put a blinder on them because when I used them, I needed 100% realiable operation, so I just modded them and kept the relay features of the system. Still the best $20 I have spent in a while.
Wes … i get 100% reliability with the shroud … not really blinders . Why they did’nt do as well across the room was they were probably getting too much ambient light . And most of the IR detectors are designed for the newer accessories … not the older track actuated units … although they will work with them .
Let’s start with this…page 6 of the crossing gate instructions:
http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-4098-250.pdf
This should get the gate working with a train in one direction. Then you should be able to install the second infra-red controller (other side of the gate for the other direction) in there by just bridging the wires out from the gates to the other controller. At some point in time both relays wil be activated simutaneously, and one will release after the caboose passes through it, then the other once the caboose passes to the other side of the crossing and past the 2nd sensor. You will adjust the time so the first relay stays activated long enough for your slow and short trains to reach the second sensor, then shut off anytime after that. There are probably better ways to perfect this, but this is a start.
Wes