ELECTRICAL TESTING

BASIC ELECTRICS

How do you solve a niggling electrical problem on your layout? TREVOR JONES presents some tips to diagnose faults and get a model railway working again.

Using a multimeter to check track voltage set to the 0-20V setting. With the controller approximately at one-third power, 4.88V is being supplied.
This multimeter runs from 9V AC up to 500V, with DC having two settings of 20V and 200V. It also offers a battery check of 1.5V and 9V, current and resistance.

THERE will come a time for every modeller when there is an electrical problem which needs to be solved. Sometimes the fault is obvious, but on other occasions a multimeter may be required to find exactly where the fault lies. A multimeter can be purchased for a little under £10 online from the likes of Amazon and will be able to check voltage (AC or DC), current consumed, for example, by a locomotive in amps, resistance in ohms. In turn it can also test electrical conductivity or find a short.

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