Make an Audio Short Circuit Detector, catch polarity mistakes as they're made.

[Anonymous]

While answering one question, I remembered an old trick for preventing crossing wires while connecting feeder lines and laying track. It's just a simple audio continuity tester.

You need a piezo element, a 9 volt battery holder, 9 volt battery, a pair of insulated alligator clips and some wire.

Make a simple circuit by connecting one wire from the battery holder to the piezo element, the other wire from the battery holder to an alligator clip. Connect a wire to the other terminal of the piezo and a alligator clip on the other end. Connect the battery and test the circuit by touching the clips together.

Now connect the clips to the bus wire or track terminals and/or rails. As you are laying track and feeder wires, If you connect the wrong wires or have a short from a reverse loop, the buzzer will sound.

Having an alarm sound the instant you make a mistake is better than trying to find a short when your finished.

[selector]

Super idea, Gary! Instant feedback is the way to go. Feedback delayed is feedback denied.

-Crandell

[rrinker]

Yeah I made myself a "deluxe Beep Box". Has a pair of clip leads, a beeper and battery, and a bicolor LED and resistor. Flip the toggle one way, it's a beeper, flip it the other way it checks for DCC track power.

--Randy