How can I wire my 450 signal bridge to Lionel fasttrack? I have a 153C but that doesn't really work that good. I really don't want to rip up track to use an insulated track
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While I subscribe to insulated rail activation, you can use a 153IR as documented on pg 6 of the user guide which wold not require redoing track work.
bmoran4 posted:While I subscribe to insulated rail activation, you can use a 153IR as documented on pg 6 of the user guide which wold not require redoing track work.
I want to use this unit directly off my transformer, not track power. Where do I hook up the power from my transformer? There are 2 spots on the left and 4 spots on the right-side to hook up wires. Page 6 does not really show where to attach the wires. I'm new at this stuff.
If using the Lionel 153IR, it has two screw terminals, A and U that connects to your power supply.
The 153IR manual: https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-4111-250.pdf
Because the light goes from red to green and back, you need a relay. You can't use a insulated track with the 450.
Actually, you very well can use an insulated track section to run a 450; the insulated track section is wired to a relay which in turn sequences the lights.
Yes. I meant to say
" you can't use an insulated Track by itself" A relay would be required.
I picked up a couple of the Lionel infrared controls, they're not cheap but they really do the trick and have timers. Bill makel
IR would be the way to go since it has a built in relay specifically for 2 (and 3 ) light signals.
Thank you all for your suggestions and help.
I do agree that an IR detector, either by Lionel or by MTH, potentially works well for this application. However, I've been using both brands to activate various signals on my layouts for about nine years and would like to offer just a couple of observations.
First, I have a few trains, all in very dark colors (a black K-Line steamer with a string of black Lionel covered hoppers and a dark green MTH Santa Fe doodlebug) that will not activate any of the detectors regardless of their sensitivity settings. To work reliably and consistently, IR detectors need trains with at least a little bit of reflectivity.
Second, when using two IR detectors, for example one on either side of a grade crossing signal to activate that signal when a train approaches from either direction, one must be sure to use parallel wiring to the detectors so that polarity is not reversed. So far, I have found three different wiring variations in Lionel 153IR detectors. One has the input wiring terminals marked U and A. Another has those terminals reversed (left-most terminal is A rather than U). The third one is unmarked with a note in the instructions that polarity is irrelevant, which it is unless one is wiring two together!
Bottom line in using multiple IR detectors from two manufacturers on two different layouts over about nine years is that they work well with almost all trains but there may be exceptions. Also, if using multiple detectors from Lionel, be certain that the input terminals are identical on both of them.
Bill of the Paha Sapa Lines RR posted:...
So far, I have found three different wiring variations in Lionel 153IR detectors. One has the input wiring terminals marked U and A. Another has those terminals reversed (left-most terminal is A rather than U). The third one is unmarked with a note in the instructions that polarity is irrelevant, which it is unless one is wiring two together! .
Mind Bill's observation. Just today in another OGR thread the different wiring variation in different versions of the 153IR (sold under the same Lionel item number!) was the problem. Here's a side-by-side of info from two 153IR manuals; I made this diagram a while back and it keeps coming back like a bad penny. 
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