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Since I went ahead and purchased the mth infra-red beam device can anyone tell me that has used or is using this item how exactly they wired this device (mth operating passenger station)??.  I have tried to follow the instructions and have had no luck getting the device to respond to an oncoming train engine. Thanks again in advance. 

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Thanks! for the reply.  I have the brand SCALETRAX which is made by MTH.  It does not have a rocker switch to switch from power to track that I can see.  It is somewhat different than the diagram which you provided of the Realtrax model.  This has 5 screws in the back of the unit which are two auxillary screws, a common screw and a normally open and normally closed screw.  The delay and range screws are on both ends.  I am guessing this works in a similar manner, but I am not having any luck getting it to work right.  Thanks again for your input.

 

 

 

 

 

Sounds like you have MTH 45-1028 - Scaletrax ITAD.

 

Have you isolated the problem to be the ITAD?  That is, did you directly power the Operating Platform to confirm functionality?

 

There have been comments that the MTH ITAD's are somewhat sensitive to light.  This tells me you ought to be able to shine an incandescent bulb flashlight (not LED style) at the ITAD red window to "trip" the sensor.

 

If you have a multi-meter and have the time/interest in DIY electrical tinkering perhaps even opening up the case, there are some measurements that can be made to isolate the problem but not everyone's cup of tea...

In the following thread, spcline posted some pictures of the guts of the Realtrax ITAD (MTH 40-1028).

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...ir-itad-lockon-style

 

The 3rd photo shows an electro-mechanical relay (black box labeled MASSUSE ME-15M).  If your Scaletrax version uses similar components I'd think you might be able to hear a faint click when the relay closes if the ITAD is successfully "tripped".  May be a wild goose chase though...

Originally Posted by Jules:

Since I went ahead and purchased the mth infra-red beam device can anyone tell me that has used or is using this item how exactly they wired this device (mth operating passenger station)??.  I have tried to follow the instructions and have had no luck getting the device to respond to an oncoming train engine. Thanks again in advance. 

Hi Guys

You are not Alone with this device, I bought three from Legacy Station and trying to get info from them and MTH is like getting blood from a stone. The two terminals Marked "AUX" are for a DC supply of 12-15 volts. The common(COM) terminal is the supply from your transformer or other power supply, Then use NO (Normally Open) connect this to your lamp etc. so that as a REFLECTIVE OBJECT passes in front of the IR device the Lamp will switch ON, alternatively use the NC (Normally Closed) so that the lamp etc switches off. Adjust the Range screw so that it is just off of the High Position, this adjusts the sensitivity. Leave the delay at about in line with the L on the L-H position but experiment, I found it best to turn off the power and adjust each one and then turn the power back on. play with it until you get the desired Effect. Good Luck as I had to find out by trial and error 

Hi Jules, apologies for bothering you with this, but I'm having the same issue you had determining the right connections from the 30-9107 MTH Operating Passenger Station to the MTH Scaletrax ITAD 45-1028. I can't find where this thread specifically lays out how these connections from the station are routed to the posts on the ITAD. Could you give me a quick summary?

1)A on station to ?? on ITAD 

2)B on station to ?? on ITAD 

3)C on station to ?? on ITAD 

4)D on station to ?? on ITAD ?

5)Ground from AC transformer to ?? on ITAD 

6)Hot from AC transformer to ?? on ITAD?

Thank you in advance!

Ron

 

 

Power the ITAD via AUX (using same output as A&D below). Do not use the control box:
A= transformer neutral
B= ITAD NO
C= ITAD NC
D= transformer hot
Swap AUX wires if needed.

To reiterate, wires from the transformer power the ITAD relay via AUX and power the station in this manner:
1. A wire from B to NO on ITAD to activate action
2. A wire from C to NC on ITAD to "hold" the action
3. Two wires from the transformer to the AUX terminals to power the ITAD itself
4. A similar two wires from the transformer (or AUX terminals, if convenient or desired) to power the station lamps through posts A (neutral) and D (hot). Swap AUX wires if needed.

Last edited by Überstationmeister

Uberstationmeister, thanks for responding to my post. To ensure that I'm understanding what you're saying, let me restate it, and maybe you can tell me if I'm "on track". Sorry, couldn't resist.

A clip on Station connected to AUX - (or AUX +) on ITAD

B clip on Station connected  to NO on ITAD

C clip on station connected to NC on ITAD

D clip on Station connected to AUX+ (or AUX -) on ITAD

Transformer neutral connected to AUX- (or AU+) on ITAD

Transformer hot connected to AUX+ (or AUX-) on ITAD

Nothing connected to COM on ITAD

Is that how the wiring you're suggesting would look?  thanks,

Ron

 

 

Thanks, again.

I wired it up and I get lights. When i interrupt the beam, I get a clicking sound from the Scaletrax ITAD, but no motion. I played around with both length and sensitivity, still no luck. Changed up the wires to AUX+ and AUX-, still no luck. Swapped NO and NC connections, nothing doing. Wired ground and hot from the transformer directly to the station, bypassing the ITAD, still no movement.

I wired the station up to a Lionel 153IR and got the lights, the clicking sound, but no motion again when i interrupted the beam. I'm applying 16 volts, so i don't think there's an issue with giving it enough juice. Maybe the station itself has a wiring issue, so at some point I may open it up to see if a soldered connection has broken.

In any event, thanks for your help!

Ron

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