I have recently acquired and installed a used MTH Car Wash. I would like to activate it via an AIU port, and I have found the instructions on how to wire it.
My question is, if down the line I forget that it's just a single "activate" to start up the car wash sequence, and I use my remote to turn ALL ON for accessories, will I damage this Car Wash by having it "switched on" vs. a momentary activate?
Thanks in advance!
Brad
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It will not damage it in any way Once the accessory starts it disengages that power input until the end of the cycle. If you press ON, the relay in the AIU is closed and the power is there to restart the accessory, so it just keeps going. Just press OFF and it will stop at the end of the cycle.
Awesome. Thank you! Off I go to wire it up!
Works perfectly!
Hey Brad....I've never used mine...much less taken it out of the box...I'm jealous! FWIW...I watched Andy Edelman demonstrate a prototype at Paul Johnsons Catoctin Mountain Trains...all clear plastic...it still is unreal that someone would make it!
Further info in case it can be of help to anyone...
This accessory calls for 14 to 20 V DC in the manual. I didn't read that and hooked it up on my layout to an "available" junction box. The car moved very slowly and had trouble making around the turn entering the car wash. Put on the volt meter and it turns out I only had 13 V (from an older Radio Shack 12V power supply).
So I ordered an 18 V from Amazon and it arrived today. WOW! The car works great now. The green and red lights are brighter, too!
Lesson 1: RTFM
Lesson 2: More juice, please! 
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
