Hi Guys - a few years ago I received much help from FM on wiring MTH crossing gates using a relay. Since then we moved and I am setting up my layout again. My problem? I lost the wiring diagram I made for the crossing gates. I already did a search and reviewed my previous posts regarding the gate wiring. The only problem I have - I can't find where to connect the red and black wires coming from the gate (see diagram). Here are 2 questions I have:
1. Where do I connect the red and black wires coming from the gate?
2. If I run 2 parallel tracks (see diagram of track A & B) and add another gate where do I run the common wire from the outside rail of track B?? (my thought was to "piggyback it to where the common wire is connected from track A OR run a common wire from the outside rail of track B to the outside rail of track A). My goal is that whenever a train passes on track A or B the 2 gates would operate.
3. Are the wires that show in the diagram connected correctly??
Always appreciate your help!
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Red is power, black is ground. Not sure about the relay, but blue is common, white and yellow are NO and NC. You should be able to hook the two isolated rail wires together. Here is a diagram.
Thanx John - I did have the red and black connected to power and ground but they didn't work. I'm pretty sure the wiring I have is correct - I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the gates themselves. I'm also thinking that maybe the track isn't insulated correctly. I have isolated block set up and power going to each block. I do have a common (ground) going to each block and I have "crossed grounded" both rails. Anyway, I do appreciate your feedback and help!! Thanx again -
Paul
It's easy to check your isolated rails. Just check for continuity between the two outside rails in the isolated section with an ohm meter.
Well to help on this, since there is another topic going I just replied to, which is about the gates not raising, well with what your mentioning here, look on the forum and contact STAN2004, he helped me on diagrams with knowing how to use relays and insulated rail to make a crossing gate work. If you look at this topic - you'll find STAN's reply being the 2nd one down from the top - https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...04#77311805194143104 and also to help, here's another topic he replied to - https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...es-and-signal?page=1 And to also help, here's a diagram he sent me early last year and I still had it saved.
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There are a lot of times I wish I lived next door to Stan and Gunrunnerjohn.
John/Tom - OK - just checked my wiring again and it seems to be wired correctly (as per your diagram). My guess is that it is the insulated track section that is the problem. I have feeder wires going to the track with a hot to the center rail and a common (ground) going to the outer rail THEN I have a wire connected to both outer rails (to ground both rails). I'm going to try insulating both outer rails tomorrow and see if that works - (don't have an ohm meter).
Thanx again -
Paul
The wire from the insulated rail goes to the relay. The insulated rail should have no connection to the other outside rail.
John H posted:The wire from the insulated rail goes to the relay. The insulated rail should have no connection to the other outside rail.
Thanx, John - my insulated rail has no connections to the other outside rail - going to spend the day in the basement working on this - thanx again!
Paul
OK - this morning I rechecked the insulated track - no problems there. I disconnected wires going from gates to the relay and power. I tested them using MikeCT's illustration by touching the hot and ground to the rails and then touching white to blue wire and yellow to blue wire - gates worked with no problem. I am now thinking it may be a bad relay - although it was working fine on my old layout. Oh well, to my LHS to buy a new one -
Paul
Ok - before I travel 40 miles to buy a new relay is there a way for me to test the relay?
Paul
Lionel also has a good video on how to hook up crossing lights using a relay (their 151E, I believe) which you may want to watch to confirm you have everything hooked up correctly.
You should hear the relay "click" when you activate it (roll a car or whatever across the insulated-rail trigger section). Then "click" again when you de-activate it. Can be faint so you might need to put you ear right up to it and turn down the train volume if those are going. All this seeing as you don't have a meter that is.
For the record, what exactly is the part number of your relay? I think I know what it is based on your diagram but might as well let us know. I was going to suggest swapping the white and yellow connections to the relay (for the purposes of testing the relay) but this would typically require soldering which can be a bother.
How are the relay and gates powered? Just run a car over the insulated track. You should be able to hear the relay click, for starters. No click, use something with a light and hook it up the same as the relay coil and try the car again.
I know the track is properly insulated and I know all connections are correct. When train moves over insulated track there is no sound from relay and no action on gates. The drawing in my first post is how the relay is wired - I have the red and black wires coming from the gate wired to my terminal block (AC power). Pretty sure it's the relay!
Thanx for all your help
Paul
I'm using NTE relay #R14-11A10-12 (DPDT 10A-12VAC) - this is the same relay I used to connect the gates on my "old layout".
Paul
For a last resort check, run a power and ground wire from the transformer direct to the relay coil. That's the second pair of terminals from the bottom of your diagram.
OK John - before I do that I have a question or three: 1) should I leave the power & ground coming from the gate connected to the bus? 2) should I leave the insulated track ground wire connected to the relay? 3) should I leave the power wire connected to the bus & relay?
Paul
Paul, I would just undo the power and insulated ground to the relay. If no action with the separate hookup, the relay isn’ Working.