Operating Car Wash and Gas Station

I'd try using a different activation button.

I have tried using  3 different ones. 2 by MTH and a doorbell. That made no difference.

Barry probably hit the issue. Test the button when disconnected using an ohm meter. Sounds like it is a permanent short, never open.

Thanks Guys. I will try that but don't think thats the issue. I used them on other products with activation buttons and they work fine.

Well then, it must be the wiring. It's interesting that it works correctly when you disconnect the wire.

Any chance you could post a photo of your wiring?

The switch is very basic. It just connects for a moment when pressed. I have a feeling something is overlooked here.

I hate to ask, but you are connecting the switch correctly?

Here is a pic of how I have the Car wash wired. 

Ok, so here is the official plan. if the red and black in the picture from john mean hot and ground, looks like a problem...

Yes. Red is hot. Black is ground. My pic is upside down compared to the MTH instructions. Where did I go wrong?

I can only guess that the 2 black wires on the right bottom in your photo go to the 2 connectors on the switch?

at a glance, it looks correct? what are u powering it with?

John, I would jumper from a to d with hot and from b to d with neutral so you only have the two power lines coming in. Then take another jumper and connect a to c sporadically like it is the switch to see if that works.

I misread your photo but you have six wires disappearing off the picture and you only need four, two power and two switch.

Engineer Joe. I am using 13.VDC 19Amp power supply. I ran a bus wire around the underneath. I connect my accessories to the bus wire.

Hokie,

I will try that but wouldn't it be the same as I have it now? It would just make it less wire going down through the tables.

Maybe, but the question is the other wires and where they go. I hope you mean 13 vac and not dc.

This is what I am using. The guy at the train shop gave it to me just to run my accessories. I am new at this so I am still learning. Is this not good?

John, one of the other folks may know what is inside the unit but the part I posted says to use ac from your transformer. What transformer do you have and what posts are you using for what? a picture would be best.

Here is a picture of the transformer. I use this for accessories and buildings only. The trains run independently.

If you disconnect the switch wire that goes to terminal A (but leave the switch wire going to terminal C), does the accessory still run continuously?  If so then it could be the activation circuit is overly sensitive (defective) and gets triggered by stray voltage from the terminal C wire acting as an antenna.

So if I disconnect wire A to the switch then everything is normal. If I hook up the switch it runs continuously. How do I fix it.

It sure seems like the switch is the issue.

As I understand what you've done so far, you disconnect the switch from the 2 bare wires connected to A and C; the accessory is OFF.  If you momentarily touch the 2 bare wires together then the accessory runs 1 cycle.  If you manually hold the 2 bare wires together it run over and over.

I realize you have tried 3 switches but it's hard to see how it can be anything else!  I don't know about your MTH switches but if your doorbell switch is lighted, those are "partially" closed electrically even when unpressed due to the light bulb inside.  If such is the case you need to remove the light bulb.

Update: I spent some time with MTH support. They were really helpful. They detemined that the gas station was defective. Thanks to Stan2004 I got the car wash working. It was the light in the door bell. Thanks to everyone who helped me. Much appreciated!

Still does not explain why 2 mth switches did not work. I also do not see how the light in switch mattered.  It is not connected to ground at all.   Basically A terminal gets AC red and B gets AC Black input power.   D and E get same but for lights only.

When you """momentarily""" touch A and C (I use a simple short wire when testing and repairing these) the unit starts it cycle.  You had to have some other wiring issue getting A and C connected continuously.   G

I recently purchased an eBay rail king operating gas station but it did not come with a Switch.   What do I need for a replacement and what is a good source.    Thx

Greg in Wisconsin 

I have both of those MTH accessories on my layout. For activation, I installed a Lionel #90 control button to each one because I like the classic look of those buttons.  Also, the bigger pushbutton is handy for youngsters.  They work every time.

Mike M.     LCCA 12394

Thx.  I have some of those.   So just to confirm,   It’s a single push and release that starts the sequence.   U don’t have to hold the button and in fact should not.   Pls confirm.   

Greg in Wisconsin 

Correct, just push and release activated electronic start sequence.  G