MTH Accessories Questions

30-1073 yes, you can use a push button switch to operate.

30-9180 yes, that is all it does folks, man "fulls" tank car or oil tender.

See the second diagram for your gate. It is for a relay. You can not use a push button unless it is SPDT and you hold it in to keep the gate down.  But you can use a SPDT toggle or slide switch instead of the relay contacts. This is because the gate is always under power.

LINK

I dont have the second accessory so I dont know what it does or is suppose to do.

Dale H

Thanks Folks.

Dale - I'm a stooge when it comes to electronics, etc. Is there any way to have the gate/light work via push button that a electronics stooge could make work? Is there any other MTH crossing gate/light accessory that you are aware of that I could just hook up a push button and power supply and go? Don't want anything track activated, etc.

Thanks!

I like MTH's Tank Car filing station. They have a non-operating and an operating. They are both exactly the same only the operating has the little guy swing down on the tank car. $100 price difference. While I'm all for action, etc, I find a $100 price difference rather hard to justify if they are both the same and the only difference is a little guy moving a few inches back and forth. 

I would also appreciate info on any user activated signals, etc for crossings and conventional control. I'd prefer to keep things interactive vs track/train activated. Would appreciate suggestions. 

Yes,if as I said the push button is spdt or has 3 leads.  A toggle would work better because you would not have to hold it down. Here is a diagram for relay contacts. The switch or push button would have to have 3 connections just like the right side of the relay.The switch has to make/break the circuit.

The red wire would go to a 12-14 volt transformer hot tap.

The black wire would go to the transformer common (U on a ZW) and to the common of the switch.

The white and yellow wires would go to the other 2 switch contacts. If the gate works backwards simply reverse the wires.

 Click on photo to enlarge

Any SPDT toggle at Radio Shack would work. Follow the wiring instructions and it should work.

Now if you want it to work with the train,I would use a relay. This can be done if you can make an outside insulated rail. I can make you up a setup that should work if you are interested. I need to know what transformer you are using and could send a diagram.

Since you asked for a push button here is one of many with 3 connections SPDT. RS does not seem to list one.

LINK2

Here is one a bit heavier,a better choice

Link3

Dale H