Test bulbs with digital multi-meter?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jrbernier

The Athearn Genesis bolb draw very little current, but vary wildly from bulb to bulb. My calculations say 700 ohms, but I have had them burn out within 5 minutes with that small of a resistor. I use a 1000 ohm resistor and they last forever(or at least the past year or so!)

OK - I think I have some 860s on hand. I'll try those. As long as I can get a reasonable length of time out of them, I'll be happy! Thanks!

[jrbernier]

Frank,

The Athearn Genesis bolb draw very little current, but vary wildly from bulb to bulb. My calculations say 700 ohms, but I have had them burn out within 5 minutes with that small of a resistor. I use a 1000 ohm resistor and they last forever(or at least the past year or so!)

Jim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

you may need to step down the voltage if they are truly light bulbs..what are they rated at?...12, 5 or 1.5 volts? ..if they are LEDs start with a 1000 ohm and work down until you have one that works the light but won't fry it..a 470 ohm resistor should have worked if it's an LED

The ones I'm trying to use are incandescents that came from Athearn Genesis F units. I think Athearn refers to them as micro-bulbs.

[cwclark]

you may need to step down the voltage if they are truly light bulbs..what are they rated at?...12, 5 or 1.5 volts? ..if they are LEDs start with a 1000 ohm and work down until you have one that works the light but won't fry it..a 470 ohm resistor should have worked if it's an LED....chuck

here's a web site for electronic devises that can step down the voltage..i use 1.5 volt grain of rice bulbs and have to install the circuit for the can motor to step it down from a 12 v to a 1.5 volt power supply http://www.mrollins.com/constant4.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by On30ShayUsing the ohmeter setting, put one lead on each bulb contact. If you have resistance, the bulb is good. If the circiut is open, the bulb is bad.

OK - I tried it and the bulbs didn't register. Apparently I fried them. I'm accustomed to using LEDs. So, I grabbed 470 ohm resistors, which is what I always use with LEDs, and they weren't up to the job. What resistance would you recommend for Athearn micro-bulbs?

[Anonymous]

Using the ohmeter setting, put one lead on each bulb contact. If you have resistance, the bulb is good. If the circiut is open, the bulb is bad.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I'm so ignorant about such things, but is there a way to use a digital multi-meter to test an Athearn micro-bulb to see if it has failed? And if so, how?