Menards Fire-Damaged Engine House

You can get help on their web site, I think.It was a different type of thing but I left a message and got help within 30 minutes.

Try plugging  it in in a dark room. I have it but not near by.

thanks for the replies. tried it in room completely dark, nothing. is there a on-off switch somewhere?

Yes,there is a off on switch, next to it is a mode button,then the plug in for 4.5 volts. Make sure you cycle the mode bottom.Bob

Thanks bob I have been cleaning my 3 downed trees all day today. That's why I haven't  been able to check ,

bob are we talking about the menard fire-damaged engine house? where exactly is the mode and on-off switch on the unit? and what does the mode switch do? boy I sure wish it had come with some instructions!!!!!! thanks herb miller

Yes I am.its located next to where you put the power plug into..Bob

thanks bob, there are two plug inputs, one underneath and one on the side of the base. which one? 

herb miller

The one on the side.the round button is the mode button.the slider swich is on.off

Thanks Bob......had no idea the mode button was there!   

-Pete

Dose your Menards Fire-Damaged Engine House Work?

Any more questions ?   I have mine out  so if you do I'll answer .

I noted three modes of operation.

1. Embers always lit

2. Embers flashing rapidly

3. Embers flashing from bright to low and then back to bright.

However, one thing I did notice with mine is that when I set the mode I want and then shut off power it reverts to the default start up mode (embers always lit).  Which is a pain because everytime I start up my layout, I have to reset the mode of operation to the one I like....which is bright to low.

-Pete

I just powered my Menards Fire-Damaged Engine House and that is the way my Engine House works to. I like the 3rd way just like you do. Then I like it the first way always on. I don't like the 2nd way (flashing) It flashes to quickly. My Engine house is still in the package it came in I have not opened it but I could if you need any more info on it. I have not looked at the underside (there are two plug inputs, one underneath and one on the side)

Scot,

How did you power it with out opening the box?

Roger

OK. Now how did you get the wire in and work the switches?

Roger  there is an opening / cut out along the 3 stickers on the package. that is how it was shipped from Menards

I see. You can actually open the enclosure without taking it out of the package. Interesting.

Can't those buildings be run from track power?

I just bought one from Menards and it does not have the round mode button. Have they discontinued the mode button?

Mine came that way as well.

It just lights up with the "red burning embers".  I'm fine with this but did question the lack of the "mode" button.

Maybe it missed "quality control"

On the units with no mode button, do the embers stay lit or fade in and out in intensity?

Being a business Menard's will keep down manufacturing costs of their products where possible. Undoubtedly as each new manufacturing run has higher costs than the previous run, to keep the msrp constant and still maintain the same first run profit something has to be eliminated so it's logical the mode button would be targeted for elimination since their was never an explanation of it anyway in the initial product run and twith many buyers unaware of it and therefore not using it, elimate it and most purchasers will never notice it's gone. 

NJCJOE posted:

On the units with no mode button, do the embers stay lit or fade in and out in intensity?

They just stay lit at a constant glow.  You do have the on/off switch option.

Mine also doesn't have a  lighting mode button, it's always steady on. It was purchased nearly two years ago and at that time Menards' website advertised that it featured three lighting modes. I wasn't too upset at that time because I figured their ad just hadn't been updated yet.

However, while perusing the Menards website for another train purchase today, I revisited this fire damaged engine house ad and it's still says it has three lighting modes.

For anyone who bought this building during the past 6-9 months or so, does yours have a  button and three different light modes? I'm asking to see whether Menards has reinstated this feature or if they still haven't corrected  their ad to make it accurate, thruthful?

If they've returned to including this mode button on the fire damaged engine houses currently being sold, I wonder if they'd exchange mine since when I purchased it, mine was supposed to have that button too.

FYI, after I bought it and discovered it lacked the mode button I emailed Menards a few times asking about it but they ignored my emails. No response from then, NADA!