MTH Operating Coaling Tower wiring

Right.  Z-500 bricks have fixed 18V AC outputs so they would be too much voltage. 

Like the Z-4000, the Z-1000 brick has a fixed 14V AC output for accessories.

Thank you!  That was way too obvious   Plugged it all in and it works...but the green button is supposed to lower the bucket and it actually raises the bucket...the big red button is supposed open/close the claw (that works) and also raise the bucket but when pushed all the way down it lowers it instead...so the darn thing can't pick anything up!  Sigh...not any options for plugging anything together so don't think it's user error...anyone else ever come across this?

One good thing...the crane works way faster than I expected...only complaint I ever saw about this thing was how slow it moves...I've seen video of it moving very slowly...but this one moves pretty fast.

Is this covered under warranty?  Clearly that is defective behavior!

IF you're on your own to repair it, it is a fairly simple electrical circuit.  There have been assorted threads on this though not one I could find with your specific problem.  Anyway, if you are so inclined, you can open the controller box and examine the circuit board as per this thread.

There are two tiny components (diodes) as shown.  With the board oriented as shown, are the silver bands of the two components on the ends of the diodes as shown...or were they installed backwards?  If backwards, this would make the motor operating backwards.

If the diodes are correctly oriented, then the other possibility (I don't have this Accessory) is the 2 wires to the motor in the crane itself are wired in backwards.  This also would make the motor operate backwards.  The wiring reversal could have occurred at several points along the way.  I say "along the way" since the 2 wires to the motor pass thru solder joints, connectors, etc.  I couldn't find any more pictures online of the wiring to be more specific on what to look for.

There are meticulously drawn schematics of the accessory in this OGR thread, but I think you need actual photographs to diagnose a simple assembly error.

Just bought it new so still under warranty...kind of a pain but I think I'd rather return it than mess with it myself...I sent an email to Mario Trains where we ordered it.  Thank you again for your responses.

Canes RR posted:

Thank you!  That was way too obvious   Plugged it all in and it works...but the green button is supposed to lower the bucket and it actually raises the bucket...the big red button is supposed open/close the claw (that works) and also raise the bucket but when pushed all the way down it lowers it instead...so the darn thing can't pick anything up!  Sigh...not any options for plugging anything together so don't think it's user error...anyone else ever come across this?

 

One good thing...the crane works way faster than I expected...only complaint I ever saw about this thing was how slow it moves...I've seen video of it moving very slowly...but this one moves pretty fast.

Is the connector from the button box to the tower indexed or can it be reversed? Perhaps that is changing the up/down movement.

My guess is someone let the claw all the way out and now the spool is wound backwards.  If you hold the red button it should go all the way down (and out) and then start back up to correct the issue.

Worth a try before sending back!

S/F Mike

Mike, you sir are a genius!  That was it...works great now.  Thank you all for taking the time to respond...I really appreciate everyone on this forum...little man is happily loading M&Ms and jelly beans into freight cars