I need to measure the stall current on my DC locos before I choose DCC decoders to install. I'm looking for the recommendation of a few, relatively inexpensive meters. There are so many to be found on Amazon or Harbor Freight, can you please be specific as to model names/numbers? Thanks!
This car stops at ALL railroad crossings!
NNJ,
I picked up a nice digitral multimeter at Sears several years ago for $20. It comes with two probes and even a thermocoupler for measuring temperature.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Craftsman? Something like this (but no thermocoupler)?
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-digital-multimeter-with-ac-voltage-detector/p-03482146000P?unitNo=0001614&sellerId=SEARS&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
This is what I have: Craftsman 82400 digital auto-ranging multimeter
It may be a discontinued item now. Like I said, I bought several years ago.
I have a couple of multi-meters but for (like you) testing DC locos before DCC conversion, I put a 3' flextrack (even made s-curves in it) on a plywood strip. I included a 2A analog meter, which was cheap, arrived fairly quickly (probably within 2 weeks) and is accurate enough to see if a loco is a special case regarding decoder selection.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-2A-Ampmeter-Analog-AMP-Current-Panel-Meter-Ammeter-Gauge-85C1-/171780762553?hash=item27feee6bb9:g:5ZoAAOSwgkRVSulK
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
How do you connect it?
I have used the HF meters for some years. I have four. Cheap enough.
http://www.trainelectronics.com/Meter_Workshop/index.htm
The linl below shows very clearly how to do a votage amps check for a loco. Yes, you can do it with one meter but these meters are cheap enough.
http://www.trainelectronics.com/Meter_HF/index.htm
The meters measure 13.6 vac on my NCE Power Cab. Agrees with my digital Scope.
As a DCC amp meter, use the ZXCT circuit below on the 20ma scale. I bult two. One for me and one for club some years ago.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/DCCvolts.html
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
NNJRailfan How do you connect it?
See the two large bolts on the back? In series with the power to the test track, just like you'd connect a multimeter. Can't run backwards though with that type of meter, unless you get fancy. Can't with a multimeter either, unless you swap the leads. There are similar meters that are center 0, so they can indicate for either polarity.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have half a dozen Harbor Freight meters that were free. All give slightly different readings, but I just average them out.
That works just fine. I have done that over the years. This is model railroading, not rocket science.