Wiring MTH Crossing flashers with sound to a Lionel 153IR ITAD.

Which version of Lionel 153IR do you have?  For the exact same model number, Lionel has different instructions depending on which version you have (2015 or 2002).   

Hooking up the gate and speaker would be like the example shown at bottom of diagram.

Download/read instructions from Lionel site for whichever version you have (both manuals are on their site).  There are 2 adjustment controls.  You can wave your hand in front of the sensor window to trigger it to learn how the controls affect operation.

Stan

Thank you once again.  I have the model from 4/02 but oddly there is nothing on the this unit to indicate who made it or even a product number.   The crossing flasher I have doesn't include the gate, it only has the sound module. I will work on it per your diagram.

IRAG

As I understand it, you will be powering the 153IR with 14V AC Accessory Power which would be hooked to the two left terminals (A=hot.  U=common).  Then set the center power selector switch to the ACC Power position.

If this is the first time you've messed with an Infrared Track Activation Device, I suggest you first set the Delay adjustment control to minimum, and the Sensitivity adjustment control to mid-range.

At these settings, you should be able to wave your hand or any light colored piece of paper several inches in front of the reddish sensor window and trigger the unit.  If the room is quiet, you should be able to hear the internal relay "click" or "tick" turning on when you trigger it.  Then, when you move your hand/object away, the relay will click again turning off.  Or you can be ambitious, jump ahead, and hook up the flashers/speaker as shown above (blacks to ACC GND, reds to NO) in which case the flashers/speaker should activate/de-activate and you probably won't hear the relay click since the speaker will be clanging (hopefully!).

Once you confirm the unit is triggering and turning power on/off in, then you can mess with the Delay and Sensitivity controls to fine-tune how you want it to operate.  If the reddish sensor window is next to a track, you should be able to adjust the sensitivity to detect virtually any passing engine/rolling stock.  There are some oddball items with dark colored, matte-finish surfaces that may give finicky performance but few and far between.  At maximum sensitivity you should also be able to detect lighter colored objects on a 2nd parallel track.  The reason you wouldn't set it to maximum sensitivity might be because you have some light-colored scenery or object on the other side of the track causing a false reflection.  Note that the 153IR is shooting a beam across the track and triggers when it gets a reflection. 

Stan, It took me a while but I wired my MTH Crossing flasher and sound module by using a simple push button controller as you displayed in your posts to me.  I purchased an MTH ITAD (brand new) but I had problems with it doing what it was supposed to do. The use of a simple controller works!!  Sure I have to press the button when the train nears the crossing but I love it.  I hid the sound module (speaker) under the structure from an old Lionel drum loader which was no longer working.  Thanks again for your help.

IraG

If you're happy that's what counts! 

Yep, an ITAD can be a tricky beast to tame.  You 'd think for something that costs $20 or more that there would be more detailed instructions than what's provided, troubleshooting tips (yeah, dream on!), etc.