Whistle Button activates Crossing Gate???

[kblester]

I use a LIONEL trackside IR activation switch to operate my Lionel scale auto crossing gate. This works as it should when the train passes in front of it. When I push the whistle lever on my KW the gate comes down until released. I can't think of any reason for this. Where do I begin??

Ken

[rogruth]

Why not? Trains whistle for crossings. But that is odd.

[chuck]

KW has a "booster" winding to compensate for the voltage drop from the older style disk rectifier.  If the rectifier has partially failed and is leaking too much power back to the track circuit and the IR detector is powered off of the track, the overdrive may be pushing the illuminating LED to a level that the reflection inside the detector may be tripping the circuit. 

Do you have an external sound activation switch?  These are solid state diodes and just throw a nice clean DC spike to activate the horn/whistle, no booster ciruit.  It will probably trigger the whistle without affecting the IR detector.

[kblester]

Chuck,

I think you nailed it. My KW transformer does not boost any longer. The train slows considerably when using the whistle lever. The rectifier must be going bad. I do have a Lionel sound activation button, reversed, which I use for the bell. This button does not activate the gate. Also I had lowered the sensitivity this year when I installed the IR controller, and the "boost" must have triggered it.

Many Thanks for the time saving answer I would have never found. Regards, Ken