I am not really familiar with this tool although I have one ( odd!!) On what setting whould be helpful in figuring the power I need for my rails and what number should it read... Joseph
Are you in DCC or DC, and which scale? Usually the DCC systems have settings for the scale so that you don't overpower the rails and by extension the decoders.
So, you hook up the base stations wire-wise, and then select the appropriate scale voltage by a toggle or something (it's a tiny toggle switch on my Digitrax DB150). Then, power it up, and if you don't get a short indication, you simply turn on the meter, set it for the AC voltage upper limit on the dial (for mine it is 2, then 20, and then whatever volts, so I would choose the 20 volts since I am in HO scale and the usual voltage given by the various systems is somewhere near 16 volts or so). With the multi-meter on to the right selection of measurement (DC or AC) amps or volts, etc.), you simply touch one of the leads to one rail, and the other lead to its opposite (make sure you are touching on the same side of any nearby joiners in case one of them is not transmitting power). You should get a reading immediately of around 12-15 volts, depending on your meter and on your DCC system. It won't be terribly accurate because the AC to the tracks in DC needs a special instrument to be read accurately....but you will be within 1 volt of the true amount, so a good indication.
When I have a bad connection and some dead track, the reading for me is near 2 volts.
I hope that helps and that I have explained myself clearly.
To give you terms that might be more familiar:
Volts is pressure ... Amps is rate of flow ... and watts is volume.
Volts can be measured from one rail to the other, but to get an acurate reading there must be no load, so there should be no engines or lighted cars on the track in the block being measured. Meter must be set to AC.
Amps cannot be measured from rail to rail. The meter must be in series with the load.
Watts is calulated by multiplying volts times amps.
Take all your engines & lighted cars off the powered track. Measure the voltage at the Booster with it not connected to the track, then connect it and measure it from rail to rail at various places around the layout, including the farthest point. The readings should be about the same.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
What are we talking about...is it volts, AC or DC? if you have the leads plugged into the correct sockets of the meter for the reading you want (verify, please, per instructions), and the knob rotated to the 20v AC, or the closest such limit, then the reading suggests you have no voltage...or next to no, so you have a continuity problem in the rail system or in its feeders.
I don't understand the 30.2 "...the other way." The 12.1 is about right, if low. You are keeping the prods firmly on one rail each? Keep them and you still, and then read the voltage over about two seconds only...that's all it'll take and it will fluctuate with typical household current. Really all you want is an indication of something over 12 volts in your scale. Anything less than 12 volts is a problem....somewhere. My typical reading is about 13.8 with a 5 amp power supply and the Digitrax DB150, toggle in the "HO" position.
I don't know enough how to check the output of a power supply...maybe someone else can step in and lead you through a diagnostic of your power supply to make sure it is up to snuff.
Well...I'll take a stab at this one.
First you need to know if you are using a standard DC control transformer, or a DCC system.
You post said "power". Is that really what you want to measure? Most of us are not used to describing our locomotives in terms of power. Power is expressed in Watts. We usually use amps of current to rate locos.
DC transformers are rated in watts. Amps X Volts = Watts
Tell us a little more information please.
-Bill
I am running the Digitrax DCS 50 and I beleive it is 2.5 amps. Thanks everyone for the guidance . I amm off till tuesday so I will be working on the trains alot.. Joseph