wiring isolated track crossing gates

[Anonymous]

Using Atlas O track with MTH crossing gates. Want to use an isolated rail section to triger the gates. Gates have flashing lights that come on while gates drop, stay on until gates go up. There are 5 wires on the gates. Isolated track wiring - Running track at 18 VAC. Red and Black wires show direct to track, always powered, and should be at 10-14VAC (per MTH instructions). Can I use a bridge rectifier to supply 12VDC for these or something to reduce the 18VAC supplied by track power to 12VAC? Blue(common), Yellow (NO), and White (NC) need to be supplied from isolated track via relay. I have a Radio Shack DTDP relay (275-218) I can use activated by isolated track through a 12VDC bridge rectifier (RS 276-1152). Can the actual power supplied to the signal be track power or must it be the same as that supplied to red and black wires? Anyone know if this will work or if there is an easier way to do it?

[willpick]

I just tried my spare set of gates on 18Vac-- they worked just fine. If you can power them with less than 18V, do so.  Using the isolated rail to turn on the relay is the best way to activate the gates. The blue wire would go to the common terminal on the relay, the white to the NC terminal, and the yellow to the NO terminal.   The relay coil is connected to the bridge rectifier-- + to +, - to -  . Connect the isolated rail to 1 of the AC terminals of the rectifier, the other goes to the center rail(hot connection).

This is the simplest way to wire up the 30-11012 gates that I know of, hope this helps!

 

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much, I'll give it a try.

[willpick]

Lou, sent you an email with a longer explanation--should get you up & running. Send me an email if you need more information.