I Need Suggestions for I.R Activation of MTH Crossing Signals with Sound (No gates)/ Update: Got It

I have the zstuff sensors on two tracks.  I use 4 to capture trains coming from either direction on either track.

All of the wires come together to the terminal strip and connect to the crossing gates.

Can I get some clarification Ron? The MTH crossing signals only have a hot and common wire.  The Z stuff block signals have a hot, common , and a "white output or input".

Lol... I'll take a closer look at my wiring tomorrow.  I put that white tape on those wires for a reason.  Wish I could remember why. 😂

Ron

Rick, I don't know but what comes to mind is that you don't show pictures of your layout often enough. 😁

Rick, 

Ok, forget my wire picture.  I used telephone wire and put tape on some of the wires and tonight realized some of the tape has fallen off and is missing.

So you are right, the DZ's have Red Black and White and the Crossings have Red and Black.  Think of the white wire as on on/off switch.  When a train passes the DZ, it turns on the switch.  After the DZ no longer sees a train it turns the white switch off.

EDIT  From the DZ to the terminal strip...  Red to Red Power, Black to Black Power,  White

From the Crossing signal to the terminal strip.  Red to Red Power, Black to White.

If using two DZ's for a double track, then the Black must be spliced.  One black goes to the white on DZ for track one and the other black goes to the white on DZ for track two.

Repeat this for the other two DZ's on the other side of the grade crossing.

Ron

Ron045 posted:

Rick, 

Ok, forget my wire picture.  I used telephone wire and put tape on some of the wires and tonight realized some of the tape has fallen off and is missing.

So you are right, the DZ's have Red Black and White and the Crossings have Red and Black.  Think of the white wire as on on/off switch.  When a train passes the DZ, it turns on the switch.  After the DZ no longer sees a train it turns the white switch off.

So all I did was connect red to red and black to black.  BUT... I spliced the black wire and connected the spice to the white wire on the DZ's.

I attached a crude picture.

Have Fun!

Ron

Where are the sensors connected in the pic?

Thanks!!!

The way your wiring is pictured, the lights will flash all the time, because they are hooked directly to power at the terminal strip.

I have Lionel, MTH and Z-Stuff IR sensors on my layout controlling accessories and all work well. For a change, I also tried magnetic track sensors and they work just as  well.

John H posted:

The way your wiring is pictured, the lights will flash all the time, because they are hooked directly to power at the terminal strip.

John, 

You are correct... I was wrong and so was the picture.  I edited my post.

Thanks!

Ron

Update: After exchanging emails with John Parsons of Azatrax, He suggested the D2T-DS train detector.

It does EXACTLY what I was looking for, detects trains in either direction going through the crossing.  Simply installing a pair of I.R. sensor on either side of the crossing that "see" across BOTH tracks.

The I.R. sensors are only "roughly" aimed, I need to secured them with adhesive into the layout , and they work flawless. 

The best part is, it was a fraction  of what it would have cost me with any competitors detectors on top of having to add relays, etc.  and Johns customer service is superb.

Here are pics of the I.R sensors. I'm going to lower them and secure them.