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I was running my IR 153 with a pair of Lionel Main Line crossing gates.  Life was good and all was working,  Unit was wired properly. With out any smoke or flames it quit.  All connections, voltages are good.  Took unit apart no visible damage found.. 

Gates checked all good.  Unit acts as if its locked in the NC position.  Eye sensor does not seem to be sensing.  No relay click or activation.  Moves adjustment pots, no response I even went to a basic 2 wire crossing gate on a dedicated power supply source set to 12-14 volts on my ZW transformer. Same results. Any suggestions on how to fix this

All suggestions welcome

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Which version of the 153IR do you have - 2002 or 2015?  See this thread.

If you have the newer version I am confident I can help you if you're willing/able to make measurements and work at (de-solder, solder) the component level.   Most of the components are inexpensive and available; there are proprietary components like the programmed-processor IC where it's game-over (can't be replaced).  See this thread for a tear-down. 

If you have the older version, I can probably help you though it will be a game of 20 questions.

Intermittent behavior is a troubleshooting nightmare to be sure!

If you have the older style version, then it probably does not have a programmed IC chip.  But peeling another layer of the onion (in that it will make you cry!), there are (at least) 2 older versions.  From member Charly in one of the referenced threads, here's the guts of two older versions:

IMG_2191

There is no programmed micro-controller IC chip here.  OTOH I'm not sure it's worth your time to troubleshoot these obsolete versions other than simple verification of whether the Infrared LED is functioning (using your smartphone or digital camera to see purple glow).  IR LEDs are easy to replace and cost maybe 10 cents - one of those you pay more for shipping than the part.

 

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Last edited by stan2004

Another thought.  If you're having intermittent timer-delay behavior, it could be a dirty delay control potentiometer.  In this recent thread, a squirt of electrical contact spray cleared up the problem. 

153ir%20delay%20control%20shoot%20contact%20cleaner

That is, the time delay in these circuits is proportional to the resistance value of the variable resistor knob (potentiometer).  The component is a sliding wiper and if it doesn't make firm contact, the resistance value goes to infinity which makes for an infinite time delay and screws up everything.  So it may be worth a minute of your time to spray the wipers of the two potentiometers with contact cleaner as you swipe the knobs thru their range of motion.

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Hi Stan, Thanks for the feed back.  The board is the one on the right.  I will try the contact cleaner trick.  there maybe hope yet.

Like your adventure its worth trying to fix bc I have nothing to loose at this point. I haven't messed with it tonight though it seemed that to get it to work one had to find the sweet spot on the timing and sensitivity pots.

Thanks,

Vic

Good evening Stan and our members,  I finely had a chance to try the contact cleaner trick on one of my 153 IR units. After spraying the potentiometers as suggested it began to work again.   I still don't have the full range of adjustment yet but at least i'm headed in the right direction.. as a foot note it also helps to clean the track/ acc power source switch.  It to appeared to be causing some minor issues.  Thanks again for the suggestions.  This is exactly why I'm a member of this terrific forum. 

Hope this data will help the next member in some way 

Best Regards !!

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