Multi-Meters

[Anonymous]

With more and more electrical questions showing up here, I'm curious to know if many modlers have and know how to use a Multi-Meter (VOM-Volt/OHM meter). I for one, would not even think of trying to troubleshoot an electrical problem without having a VOM by my side. A simple VOM is, in my opinion, a moderately priced, indespensable tool to have. Just wondering how many other Modelers feel this way.

Regards, John Newton

[rogerhensley]

Since 1960! I bought a Simpson 260 when I got out of service in 1963 and it has served me well right up to today. I was using it to set the voltage & resistance for the LED siganls that I just installed on my ECI Railroad.

Never leave home without it. (Oh, that was a credit card, but you get the idea.)

PS - I even have a VTVM for precise work. :-)

Roger

Roger Hensley – [e-mail]
== http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html ==
== East Central Indiana HO Scale Railroad ==

[Anonymous]

If I didn't have a volt/ohm meter, I'd buy one!
Doesn't need to be expensive. I used to buy cheap meters for my techs to use as transistor and diode checking. One with two different battery voltages. People can make a simple tester with a Green or Red LED from Radio Shack, and two resistors wired to leads with clips. The resistor is 3.2K for current limiting, connected in series with one LED. Connect one LED to light red with one polarity, the other with the opposite. Can read voltages at about 1.5 to 2.4 volts depending on LED, can connect with a pair of batteries for checking wire connections or opens.

[Anonymous]

troscoe, I know this topic would be better on the Polls Section but I thought that I would get a better response on this side of the Forums. I know that there are more than two EE's out there that know how to use a VOM. Specially EE's that like to Model, and know what a VOM is. Any EE's that are also PEs in the crowd?

[Anonymous]

Yup I have a multi meter (or two) and know how to use it. My profession is in electronics though so it'd be unlikely that I wouldn't have one. I can't say I've used it much on the layout but as it's still mainly in the benchwork stage that's probably why.

[bfsfabs]

Dear John,

Oops, that may not be the proper salutation. . .

Anyways, I have a bunch of VOMs and scopes I have acquired over the years. From a Heathkit HM-1 of 1954 up through a Fluke D-804 from the '70s. A 1956 Heathkit O-10 scope and a '70s sometime Heathkit IO-4235 scope. I used to make my living as an electronic tech and electronic engineer. So I was/am used to the instrumentation and it's uses. Didn't Roger say "Don't leave home without it"? You bet!

Having a VOM is only about 25% of the solution. The other 75% is having a significant clue about how electricity actually works, which enables the meaningful interpretation of the readings on the VOM.

My other hobby is middle to OLD aged automobiles. Don't forget that about 80 - 90% of on road failures are electrical in nature. Again the VOM, properly applied, very often leads to the cause of the problem.

Electrical ignorance is Rampant ! !

Understand, truly, what Volts, Amps, Watts and Ohms are. Then the VOM can help you find where they are lurking. Maybe even tattle on their wrong doings.

Electricity is much like computer programming in this respect, "It will do EXACTLY what you told it to do, in spite of what you THOUGHT you told it to do". Don't ever forget this.

Lowell Ryder

Pacific & Southwest Railroad Co (HO)
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Got one at a discount store for $9,has a digital display,useful ranges for our hobby.Learned how to use it in high school 1969.It is very useful for track and locomotive trouble shooting.

[Anonymous]

Lowell, Salutation accepted,(I'm used to it by now LOL). I a agree with your statement, "Electrical ignorance is Rampant!!". I am a Field Service Tech in the Power Distribution Field and you would not believe what I see out there in the Field. Every now and then I, as well as some of my colleagues, come accross soemthing that makes absolutley no sense whatsoever!! We have a saying for those instances, "FM" and in the very rare cases "Pure FM" First letter; explative deleted, second; Magic!! Both Roger and yourself are very correct in saying, "Don't leave home without it". I have also run into problems where someone does not know how to use a VOM correctly. Those time are rather scary because if you are not careful someone can get hurt. I truly believe if you want to model, with electricity being part of the equation, you need to have and be able to use correctly, a VOM.

John

[Anonymous]

I agree. I have miles of wiring under my layout from the DC block stage it was in before DCC and I couldn't have possibly put it together let alone trouble shoot without a VOM.


Ken, D&J RailRoad, Stafford, VA

[Anonymous]

I always use one.

[Anonymous]

Hi John
My Name is Larry and i have a Digital model meter but be danged as to how to use it ohms resitance about all i know how to do are volts i do not know where to plug in the leads for what and where to set the dial for each thing i have a few automotive things to check out but cannot because of the trouble i have with the meter all of it sounds easy but for me it is not if you can be of help in explaining this contact me at [e-mail]
THX
LARRY

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm not an EE but I am a PE. I have and use my multi-meter whenever I am doing anything hobby-electric. For railroading I even decided to get the MRC power pack with the built in meters.

As for the ignorance of people and electricity, I am shocked at how many people don't know the first thing about it. I guess that since 95% of all household applications require the user to find a wall outlet and then the "on" switch I shouldn't be surprised.

In modeling, (HO DC modeling, that is) all you have to do is connect those two screws on the back of the power pack to the two screws on the track and you have your trains running around the oval. Well that was easy . . . I think I'll build a layout with room for four operators; Nothin' to it!
There is not enough emphasis in the MR publications on the electrical end of it. And many layouts have a lot of watts running around that could start fires if some care is not observed.

Sorry to monopolize the soap box. Yea, I have and use my multi-meter. - Ed

[Anonymous]

Hey Larry, Sorry for the delay. Did you get my email?

John