M.T.H. HO Crossing Gate User manual

HO Crossing Gate
PLEASE READ THE MANUAL BEFORE USE AND SAVE
WWW.MTHHOTRAINS.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW
UNPACKING
SELECTING THE INSTALLATION SITE
SET-UP
FEATURES AND OPERATION
3
4
5
11
Removing and Unwrapping Your Engine 4
What Else is in the Box? 4
4
8
9
11
6
8
10
To operate your MTH HO Crossing Gate
Master/Slave Motor Installation
Speaker Installation
Sensor Installation
Molded Roadbed Track
Not Molded Roadbed Track
SPECIFICATIONS
SERVICE & WARRANTY INFORMATION
13
14
SPEED TO DISTANCE CHART (1/87 SCALE) 13
Service & Warranty Information 14
Limited One-Year Warranty 14
Atlas True-Track is a registered trademark of Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.
®
This product may be protected by one or more of the following patents: 6,019,289; 6,280,278;
6,281,606; 6,291,263; 6,457,681; 6,491,263; 6,604,641; 6,619,594; 6,624,537; 6,655,640.
©2010, M.T.H. Electric Trains®, Columbia, MD 21046
CAUTION: ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRODUCT:
WARNING: When using electrical products, basic safety precautions should be observed, including the following:
Read this manual thoroughly before using this device.
M.T.H. recommends that all users and persons supervising use examine the hobby transformer and other electronic equipment
periodically for conditions that may result in the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons, such as damage to the primary cord,
plug blades, housing, output jacks or other parts. In the event such conditions exist, the train set should not be used until properly
repaired.
Do not operate your layout unattended. Obstructed accessories or stalled trains may overheat, resulting in damage to your layout.
This train set is intended for indoor use. Do not use if water is present. Serious injury or fatality may result.
l
l
l
lDo not operate the hobby transformer with damaged cord, plug, switches, buttons or case.
Recommended for Ages 14 and up. Not recommended for children under 14 years of age without adult supervision. As
with all electric products, precautions should be observed during handling and use to prevent electric shock.

CROSSING GATE OPERATION OVERVIEW
The MTH HO Crossing Gates will operate on AC or DC input power.
(10 – 21 VAC or 10 – 18 VDC).
The MTH HO Crossing Gates are bi-directional and can sense train movement on
1 to 4 individual tracks at a grade crossing. The moveable barricades and warning
bell are controlled by a pair of sensors placed between the rails of each track being
protected by the crossing gates. One sensor of each pair is placed on the approach
side of the grade crossing and the 2nd sensor of each pair is placed on the
departure side of the grade crossing. Since the operation is bi-directional, it does
not matter which of the sensor of each pair is placed on which side of the grade
crossing.
When a train covers the sensor on the approach side of the grade crossing, the
warning bell will begin to sound and the barricades will lower from the vertical
position to the horizontal position. The barricades are designed so that when they
are lowered to the horizontal position, they will block the automobile traffic from
crossing the track(s) until it is safe to do so.
What is important is the spacing of the sensors. The spacing is dependent on the
maximum speed of the trains passing over the grade crossing. Proper placement of
the sensors will assure that the barricades will be fully lowered when the train
arrives at the grade crossing. A chart is provided on page 13 in this manual to help
determine the correct spacing of the sensors for a given maximum speed on your
railroad.
The sensors are prewired for connection to the master motor enclosure and can be
separated by about 4 feet. That is 2 feet on either side of the grade crossing. If you
situation requires the sensors to placed farther form the grade crossing additional
wire can be spliced between the sensor and the connector of each sensor pair.
If a second, third or even a fourth train reaches the detection area for the grade
crossing while the first or any of the other trains are still in the detection area, the
barricades will remained lowered and the warning bell will continue to ring until all
trains have cleared the detection area.
M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
3

M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
4
UNPACKING THE CROSSING GATES
Removing and Unwrapping Your Product
Carefully remove and unwrap the product from the packaging.
What Else is in the Box?
·Slave Motor Enclosure
Masts (2) with the short barricade
arms attached (Use for 2 lane roads)
SELECTING THE INSTALLATION SITE
Obviously your scenery or scenery plan will have a major impact on the location of
your HO Crossing gates. However when selecting a location you must also consider
what is located under your benchwork.
Make sure that there is sufficient space without obstructions under the
benchwork. The amount of space required will depend on the number of
parallel tracks that separate the crossing gates.
Take into consideration any edging or bracing material.
Make sure that the connections and sensitivity control on the master
motor unit and the connections on the slave motor unit.
Make sure that you have a suitable location for mounting the speaker
·
·
·
·
Long Barricades (2) (Use for 4 lane roads)
Sensors (4 Pairs)
Metal Setup Template
Multiple Track Signs
Interconnect Cable
Wires for Power Connection Screws
Speaker with Enclosure
Master Motor Enclosure
Instruction Manual (The one you are reading)

SET UP GUIDE
Now that you have the crossing gates unpacked select the location for installation.
The MTH HO Crossing Gates have the ability to detect train movements on up to 4
tracks.
To install the MTH HO Crossing Gates the following items are required:
· 15/64” drill bit (for fit into ties and track that has a roadbed)
· 1/4” drill bit (for fit directly into the layout or scratch built roadbed)
· 1/8” drill bit (for pilot holes)
· #1 Philips screwdriver
· X-acto knife
The following provides instruction for installing your MTH HO Crossing Gates on
your layout. Follow the directions in order, starting with the mast installation.
First determine if grade crossing will be a 2 lane road or 4 lane road.
The barricades that are mounted to the masts in the packaging are for 2 lane roads.
If you have a 4 lane road at the grade crossing you will want to remove the short
barricades and install the longer barricades supplied in the packaging.
To change the barricades, remove the installed barricade by pulling it out of the
mast pivot. Then push the replacement barricade into the hole in the mast pivot.
The MTH HO Crossing Gates can detect train movement on 1, 2, 3, or 4 track
simultaneously, just as the prototype railroads do with their grade crossings signals
and gates. Just as in the prototype MTH has provide removable signs with
indications for the number tracks at the grade crossing. The signs are held in place
on the mast with a molded in pressure clamp. The signs are easy to remove and
replace.
M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
5

Master/Slave Motor Installation
1. Using the metal setup
template provided, mark the
location for drilling the screw
holes and the pass through hole
for the actuating wire rod. Do
not drill through the holes in the
template.
2. Drill 1/8” pilot holes for the mounting screws (2 for each mast and 4 for
each motor enclosure).
3.Using a 3/8” drill bit drill the pass through hole for the actuating wire rod.
Note:
A Helpful Tip
A Helpful Tip
The metal template should be
placed against the rails closest to the mast location. The rails were chosen as
reference to avoid variances since some layouts have track with built in roadbed or
those that may have ballast applied as opposed to track without roadbed or
ballast.
– Use a marker or pencil to circle the mounting holes for the motor
enclosures on the underside of the layout while the drill bit is still protruding
through the underside of the layout surface. This will make locating them easier.
– Before mounting the motor enclosures
to the underside of the Layout, back out the clamping
screw in each motor enclosure so that actuation wire
rod will slide easily through the clamp during
installation.
4. Align the mounting tabs on the motor
enclosure with the pass through hole and the
pilot holes, then attach the motor enclosure(s)
to the underside of the layout using the screws
provided.
5. Follow the same procedure for the slave motor enclosure
6. Insert the wire harness of one of the masts through the 3/8” hole in the
layout and guide the actuating wire rod through the clamping hole in the
master motor assembly.
M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
6

9. When the mast is secured, gently move the barricade arm up and down
while checking that the barricade arm moves up and down freely.
10. If the barricade arm is not moving freely the mast may need to be
maneuvered slightly for better alignment of the actuating rod. If the arm
is moving freely move on to step 11.
11. When the barricade arm is moving freely, make sure that the barricade is
at the end of the vertical travel, then tighten the clamping screw on the
motor actuating arm to secure the actuating wire rod.
12. Remove the cover from the motor enclosure by pushing up on the 2
tabs and pulling on the cover
13. Thread the 3-wire cable from the mast through the small square opening
in the motor enclosure and connect the cable to the 3-pin header
connector on the pc board in the motor enclosure.
14. Make sure that wires are not interfering with any moving parts.
15. Replace the motor enclosure cover
16. Repeat the steps 6 to 15 for the other mast and barricade arm.
17. The 5-wire harness is the interface between the master motor enclosure
and the slave motor enclosure. Connect one end of the 5-wire harness to
the 5-pin header in the master motor enclosure and the other end to the 5-
pin header in the slave motor enclosure.
7. Make sure that the electrical cable does not interfere with the movement
of the actuation rod, or contact any moving parts.
8. Secure the mast to the layout with two of the small Phillips screws
provided.
M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
7

M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
8
18. When activated, the barricade arm is designed to travel from a vertical
position to a horizontal position. 90 degrees of travel. Should the
barricade arm(s) need to be adjusted, loosen the clamping screw on the
actuating arm, move the barricade arm or the wire rod slightly and
retighten the clamping screw.
Find a suitable location to affix the speaker and speaker enclosure, either under the
layout or on top of your layout in a building or hiding in scenery.
1. The speaker enclosure has 2 mounting holes in the back of the enclosure.
Attach the enclosure using 2 of the screws included.
2. Push the speaker into the enclosure.
Speaker Installation
Sensor Installation
The four sensor pairs provided allow you to monitor train movements on up to track
to control the operation of the MTH HO Crossing Gate. There are two main types
of track configurations. One type has the roadbed included or attached to the track
(also includes hand laid ballast). The second type does not have a roadbed attached or
included. The instructions will explain both.

M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
9
Follow these instructions for track that has a molded roadbed,
such as MTH HO RealTrax or Atlas True-Track :
®®
1. Start by noting the two track sections that will be receiving the sensors.
The sensors are pre-wired and can be separated to a span of about 4 ft.
Please reference the speed to distance chart on page 13 to determine the
spacing that you will need to have the gates come to the lowered position
before the train arrives at the crossing. Keep in mind that you will have
consider the reaction time of the crossing gate when determining where
to place the sensors.
- Once a sensor is covered it takes approximately 9 seconds for the
barricade to lower.
- After the second sensor is cleared 14 seconds will elapse before the
barricades are completely raised. The bell stop ringing 22 seconds after
the second sensor is uncovered.
2. On both sides of the grade crossing mark the locations in the track
where you want the sensors to be located. It is recommended that you
mark as close to the centerline between the rails as possible and locate
the hole in the ballast space two between ties.
3. Drill a small pilot hole using a 1/8” drill bit at the spot you marked in
step 2. Take care to ensure you aren't drilling through any wiring. Drill
completely through the track section and into your benchwork.
4. Repeat the same procedure on the other piece of track you marked
5. Remove both sections of track from your layout. You will notice there
is a small hole in your layout decking from the pilot you drilled in step 3
6. Using a 5/16” drill bit drill a hole through the layout decking at the spot
where your pilot mark is. This is the hole you're going to use to run the
sensor up to your track sections
7. Repeat step 6 on the other track section
8. Using the X-acto knife clean the plastic burrs from the holes in the
track bed.
9. Insert one of the sensors through the hole in the layout and then insert
the sensor in the hole in the track roadbed. Make sure the sensor is
inserted completely so that the step on the sensor enclosure touches the
bottom of the roadbed. At this point the sensor should be even with the
tops of the ties in your track. You may find that you need to run the drill
bit in and out of the hole a little more to make the sensor fit. Do not
make the hole too large.

M.T.H. HO Operating Crossing Gate
10
10. Once you have the fit correct, repeat this on the other track section.
11. Place the track pieces with the sensors back in place on your layout
taking care to ensure you do not clamp the wire under the track.
12. You may want to secure the wires to the underside of the bench work
with wire clamps, staples or tape to make sure that the sensor stay in
place.
13. Plug in the sensor pair on the Master Enclosure at the location marked
Sensor 1
Repeat these steps for each track you want to have sensors installed. For example,
track 2's sensors would plug into the Sensor 2 position on the Master Enclosure.
Track 3 to Sensor 3 and Track to Sensor 4
1. Start by noting the two track sections that will be receiving the sensors.
The sensors can be separated to a span of about 4 feet. Please reference
the speed to distance chart on page If you desire a wider span on the
sensors you can splice in an wire extension to do this.
2. Mark the two locations on the track where you want the sensors to be
located. It is recommended that you mark on the centerline between the
rails and in the space between the ties.
3. Drill a small pilot hole using a 1/8” drill bit at the spot you marked in
step 2. Take care to ensure you aren't drilling through any wiring. Run the
drill bit through the track section and into your layout Benchwork.
4. Repeat the same procedure at the location of the second sensor that you
marked.
5. Using a ¼” drill bit drill through your layout or roadbed taking care to
not distort the ties. You may want to hold the ties in place with a pair of
pliers or tape them down so they do not break or twist while drilling.
6. Repeat step 5 at the second sensor location.
7. Using the X-acto knife clean up any burrs that remain on the ties.
8. From underneath your layout slide the sensors up through their
respective holes until the face of the sensor is flush with the tops of the
ties.
9. You may want to secure the wires to the underside of the bench work
with wire clamps, stapes or tape to make sure that the sensor stay in
place.
10. Plug in the sensor pair on the Master Enclosure at the location marked
Sensor 1.
11. Repeat these steps for each track you want to have sensors installed. For
example, track 2's sensors would plug into the Sensor 2 position on the
Master Enclosure. Track 3 to Sensor 3 and Track to Sensor 4.
Follow these instructions for track that does not have a molded
roadbed or track that is already ballasted:
13.