TROUBLE WITH MTH ITAD

Two Solutions

1 buy a new one when you get next check .   I had two Itads that failed when they First came out with  these !  

2  use the MTH Sensor that looks like a utility box on the side of tracks .  I Think Lionel also makes something like this ! 

Sad Fact is most electronic boards fail a lot these days !  

WRGMILW posted:

Two Solutions

1 buy a new one when you get next check .   I had two Itads that failed when they First came out with  these !  

2  use the MTH Sensor that looks like a utility box on the side of tracks .  I Think Lionel also makes something like this ! 

Sad Fact is most electronic boards fail a lot these days !  

 

That is the one I have.The info says you can adjust it.Well will lionel ones work with mth flashers?I thinking about zstuff flashers. 

seaboardm2 posted:

I have been having problems with an mth itad.Right now I have a mth imperial railking santa fe northern with freight.When thelocomotive reachs the itad.The crossing lights and bells turn on.But it cuts off as soon as the tender goes by.And then turns back on for the rest of the train.I will be very greatful for any help.

It appears that the space between the engine and tender is wide enough to let the sensor disconnect. Try putting a 1/4" shim under only the rear of the Itad to aim the sensors a little more downward. Tilt it towards the track a little more.

if that doesn't work try angling it slightly towards the direction of the train. Just a very small amount. 

seaboardm2 posted:

WRGMILW posted:

... use the MTH Sensor that looks like a utility box on the side of tracks ...

...That is the one I have.The info says you can adjust it...

If it's this one, then try the adjustments.  One or both might solve your problem.

DELAY.  After the ITAD initially detects the locomotive the DELAY controls how long the flashers stay ON after the ITAD no longer detects occupancy.  Apparently the gap between the tender and the next car(s) is large enough for the ITAD to decide the train has come and gone.  So adjusting the DELAY to, say, 5 seconds (experiment with the screwdriver adjustment and waving your hand in front of the ITAD) will keep the flashers running in the tender-to-car gap and the flashers will stay on.

RANGE.  The ITAD is shooting an invisible light beam at the track and turns on the flashers when it detects a reflection.  The RANGE adjustment sets how much reflection will turn on the flashers.  If the flashers turn off right after the tender passes, there is not enough reflection from the tender-to-car gap.  Usually this gap just has, say, the coupler which is not large enough to reflect the light beam.  So adjusting the RANGE might fix that. 

So adjusting DELAY and/or RANGE might help. 

stan2004 posted:

seaboardm2 posted:

WRGMILW posted:

... use the MTH Sensor that looks like a utility box on the side of tracks ...

...That is the one I have.The info says you can adjust it...

If it's this one, then try the adjustments.  One or both might solve your problem.

DELAY.  After the ITAD initially detects the locomotive the DELAY controls how long the flashers stay ON after the ITAD no longer detects occupancy.  Apparently the gap between the tender and the next car(s) is large enough for the ITAD to decide the train has come and gone.  So adjusting the DELAY to, say, 5 seconds (experiment with the screwdriver adjustment and waving your hand in front of the ITAD) will keep the flashers running in the tender-to-car gap and the flashers will stay on.

RANGE.  The ITAD is shooting an invisible light beam at the track and turns on the flashers when it detects a reflection.  The RANGE adjustment sets how much reflection will turn on the flashers.  If the flashers turn off right after the tender passes, there is not enough reflection from the tender-to-car gap.  Usually this gap just has, say, the coupler which is not large enough to reflect the light beam.  So adjusting the RANGE might fix that. 

So adjusting DELAY and/or RANGE might help. 

Thanks for the reply.I have been trying to adjusting this thing.But I will admit I have not thought of the gap between the locomotive and tender to big.I have a shorter draw bar for this locomotive.But I have a pair of zstuff highway flashers on the way.

Moonman posted:

seaboardm2 posted:

I have been having problems with an mth itad.Right now I have a mth imperial railking santa fe northern with freight.When thelocomotive reachs the itad.The crossing lights and bells turn on.But it cuts off as soon as the tender goes by.And then turns back on for the rest of the train.I will be very greatful for any help.

It appears that the space between the engine and tender is wide enough to let the sensor disconnect. Try putting a 1/4" shim under only the rear of the Itad to aim the sensors a little more downward. Tilt it towards the track a little more.

if that doesn't work try angling it slightly towards the direction of the train. Just a very small amount. 

Thanks fr your reply I never thought about that.I now have a set of zstuff flashers on the way.Gonna give those a try.