Skip to main content

 Has anyone had problems with the new Christmas houses from MTH. I picked up two of them this month, and have them set up on my Christmas tree layout. I have around a dozen structures on there, all wired the same way. I have terminals on top of the platform, wired to barrier strips underneath. That way, I can just plug the buildings in each year. Everything was working fine, as always, including the two new MTH houses. However, the other night the colored LEDs on one house stopped working. The interior light was still on, but the exterior lights weren't. Took it back to the hobby store today, and the shop gave me a new one. 

 I just hooked it up and turned on the layout - no lights in the new house at all. Turned off the layout to check the connection, then I saw the smoke. Every piece of wire is cooked inside. The house is a loss. The house in that spot this morning had light, all of the other houses are still working, including the other MTH house. Whenever something goes wrong, I take it for granted that it is my fault, but I am having trouble figuring out what I could have done to this one. Any guesses? The way that thing burned, I'm wondering if I should yank the other one out before I see a rerun. I hate fire. 

Last edited by Scrambler81
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

The two on my layout have been trouble free since last year's Christmas purchase-spree at the LHS. 

Same, for the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train cars. 

However, when I bought the houses, I got one dud - no Christmas lights. Brought it back and we went through several (at least 3) on the shelf to find one where all of the lights worked properly. Once I got my good one, I assisted my dealer in opening and testing all of the ones he had in stock. A majority had to go back due to the lighting, mostly LED Christmas lights, not working. 

Well, took it back to the train store, and Bob took one look at it and said it was nothing I did wrong. After I left yesterday, he checked out my first house, and said there was a bad solder. He offered to fix it, but I figured two tries was enough. I picked up Lionel’s Polar Express house instead. I really liked the MTH house, but that much burnt wiring made me too uncomfortable.

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×