Train remote control question

legomental

Today we are building trains. What a way to waste a Sunday - fabulous fun. I bought one from someone on here for my lads birthday last week and it's been a great hit so I fished out the Harry Potter train and also an older cargo train. Set it all up and he's having a great time. However, I am struggling with the cargo train. I think the remote may be faulty. 

It's set up as per instructions  I've put new batteries in everything.  The remote flashes green when you press it. The battery box has a green light. So does the receiver. 
When I press the remote the receiver flashes. 
However it won't power the train. 
If you connect the battery direct to the train it works fine but obviously with no functions on it. Therefore it must be either the receiver or remote which is faulty.

Can anyone help please? I am no electrics expert and plug it in and hope is more my line of attack. Is there anything else I can try? 

SprinkleOtter

Do you have the motor connected to the correct port on the receiver? Try both, and both sides of the remote.

legomental

I've just had a go. I've also tried all settings and playing with the positive connectors to the batteries but it doesn't work

Thanks very much though was worth a go. Might just have to buy a new remote and or receiver

SprinkleOtter

I think the receiver is most likely at fault. They are more delicate than everything else, and as you said, the receiver lights up, it just doesn't transfer power to the motor.

legomental

Thanks I'll see if I can get a new receiver then 

graphite

You sure you have both the remote and receiver set to the correct channel?  The orange slider switch has 4 positions and they have to match.

legomental

graphite said:

You sure you have both the remote and receiver set to the correct channel?  The orange slider switch has 4 positions and they have to match.

Thank you but yes. I've also tried every combination of channels too. 

The receiver flashes when both are on the same position but no response from the train!

SprinkleOtter

Might want to try giving LEGO a call- I recall that Train speed remotes were recalled at one point- you might have one of those.

legomental

Great advice thanks very much I will

MrShinyAndNew

Can you post a picture of your wiring? You say you've checked everything, but it helps to double-check. The remotes and the sensors are all interchangeable so everything should just work fine if you have it together.

To recap:

1. The IR sensor should be connected to the battery box.
2. The motor should be connected to the IR sensor.
3. The channel selector (orange slider) on the IR sensor has to match the channel selector on the remote.
4. The wheel on the remote that controls the train is dependent on which terminal your motor is attached to on the sensor. The terminals have a coloured notch under them, one blue, one orange. These correspond to the notches on the remote.
5. You've verified that the motor works and that the batteries in the battery box are fine by connecting the motor to the battery box: good. Maybe double-check the batteries in the remote? I suspect if they were all in backwards it wouldn't work at all, but maybe? 

IIRC the remote recall was due to an overheating risk and none of the affected remotes should be available anymore. It was years ago. It is possible that you have a defective remote or sensor.

Have you tried removing the batteries, sensor, motor, and assembling them together outside the train, to eliminate any sources of interference?