WALL WORT >>>>> What Do I Have ??

[superbe]

Seamonster

it's time to replace the battery.

 

Seamonster,

Thanks for the explanation for the use of the OHM adjusting wheel. I must have misplaced the instructions for the multimeter and if my memory is correct the print was so small I stopped reading and just figured out how to measure watts. After following your instructions the needle only quivered so the battery is evidently dead.

Happy railroading,

Bob

 

[Seamonster]

superbe

superbe

Is this a good one to use on the layout?

 

I do have a multimeter which meaures both DCV and ACV  with a range from 0 to 250. It also has an OHM adjustment wheel whatever that is.

 

That wheel is to compensate for declining battery voltage as the battery ages when you're making resistance measurements. Sine the battery is used only for resistance measurements, unless you store it in the ohms position with the probes touching each other, the battery should last its shelf life, but its voltage will slowly decrease. To set the ohms scale for an accurate reading, select the range you want then hold the ends of the probes together. The pointer will go all the way to the right, or almost all the way. This indicates a short circuit. Keeping the probes together, adjust the wheel until the pointer is on the last mark on the scale. Now the meter is accurately calibrated for that scale with that battery voltage. When you can no longer get the pointer to the last mark on the scale, it's time to replace the battery.

[richg1998]

Yeah, those were the days when women began entering the engineering/technician field.

Rich

[rrinker]

 Well there were like 4 girls in my EE classes back in college....

                                        --Randy

 

[richg1998]

MisterBeasley

richg1998

Buy and learn how to use a multimeter. You have learned how to drive a car, you can do the same with a multimeter.

Yeah, but try picking up girls with a multimeter. 

 

Always someone with a challenge.

Rich

 

[MisterBeasley]

richg1998

Buy and learn how to use a multimeter. You have learned how to drive a car, you can do the same with a multimeter.

Yeah, but try picking up girls with a multimeter. 

[superbe]

superbe

Is this a good one to use on the layout?

 

From the responses the wort will be usefull with slow motion switch machines and bldg lights. Since I'm using Peco motors right now I'll keep the wort on hand and try it with lighting.

I do have a multimeter which meaures both DCV and ACV  with a range from 0 to 250. It also has an OHM adjustment wheel whatever that is. It cost around $25 at ACE hardware. The selection was rather limited at the time and I didn't really know just what I would need.

Thanks for the comments and happy railroading.

Bob 

 

[richg1998]

Figure what you will need for amps and don't go over 50 percent of the wart, or 0.5 amps in this case. I usually go with 75 percent of the power supply capability but in the case of warts, I stick to 50 percent.

Some years ago I had a wart start to melt at near 75 percent of the amps indicated on the case.

Buy and learn how to use a multimeter. You have learned how to drive a car, you can do the same with a multimeter.

A multimeter for model railroad use can be obtained for about $10.00. I have an expensive Fluke but hardly ever use it as the $10.00 meter does everything I need for model railroad use.

I even gave one to our club as some people just seem to refuse to buy one for electrical trouble shooting.

Rich

[MisterBeasley]

It's free power, but one thing I discovered about wall warts is that they have no circuit breaker protection:

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/174295.aspx

If you overload a wall wart for long enough, it will simply stop working.  There's a built-in fuse, but it's not accessible.  It's only there to keep your house from burning down.

[richg1998]

 This wall wart "might" be filtered and regulated if from Verizon. If not regulated, the voltage with nothing connected to it will be around fifteen volts DC. Put your multimeter on it to see what the voltage is.

This will be good for the switch machines and a bunch of LED or light bulbs.

Rich

[tomikawaTT]

Add a 120 ohm 10w potentiometer and a DPDT toggle and you have a quick and dirty DC locomotive controller with more capacity than the typical Life-Like or Bachmann toy train pack.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[rrinker]

12 volt DC 1 amp. More likely then not unregulated and probably non-filtered as well. The regualtion takes place in the modem, and there is likely also a large filter capacitor inside right where the power supply plugs in.

What you have is fine for Tortoises and building lights.

                                    --Randy

 

[superbe]

Verizon replaced my wireless modem complete with power supply.

The old power supply is described as follows:

Class 2 Transformer.

Input 120VAC 60HZ  22W

Output 12VDC  1.0A

I've never used a wort before but understand that a regulated supply is best. Is this a good one to use on the layout?

Comments appreciated.

Bob