Checking conductivity of track using multi meter
- Thread starter Mobi
- Start date
Set the meter to DC Volts, switch on the transformer to maximum then test by applying one wire to opposite rails. You should have 18 to 24 Volts on the meter depending on the transformer. If so you are one happy bunny. If you are concerned about power drop try this on various parts of the track, you ought to get roughly the same reading throughout.
GAP
G Scale Model Trains, 1:1 Sugar Cane Trains
Yes you can use an multimeter to check continuity.
Use the ohms setting and you will be looking for the lowest reading possible ideally 0 ohms.
Short out the meter leads first and note the reading if using a digital one this will be your lowest reading it probably won't be 0 because you will be measuring the lead resistance.
Before you connect a power supply put one probe on each rail to check to see if there is continuity between the rails (ie short circuit).
If the track is a loop then you will have to break it in one place to get an accurate indication or else you will just see a short.
In Summary;
a. Break the track and measure from each rail end across the gap looking for a very low reading.
b. Measure between the tracks looking for a very high reading.
Not sure what you meant about using a pier so I will assume that the track is on the ground. This can give you false readings but will show if there is any connectivity to the ground which can a cause issues so you can rectify them early.
Of course you can avoid all this by just going battery powered which is what I did right from the start.
Use the ohms setting and you will be looking for the lowest reading possible ideally 0 ohms.
Short out the meter leads first and note the reading if using a digital one this will be your lowest reading it probably won't be 0 because you will be measuring the lead resistance.
Before you connect a power supply put one probe on each rail to check to see if there is continuity between the rails (ie short circuit).
If the track is a loop then you will have to break it in one place to get an accurate indication or else you will just see a short.
In Summary;
a. Break the track and measure from each rail end across the gap looking for a very low reading.
b. Measure between the tracks looking for a very high reading.
Not sure what you meant about using a pier so I will assume that the track is on the ground. This can give you false readings but will show if there is any connectivity to the ground which can a cause issues so you can rectify them early.
Of course you can avoid all this by just going battery powered which is what I did right from the start.
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
I assume track pier is a typo and you meant track power?
Firstly, do you have a means of applying power to the track, i.e. a suitable transformer or controller? This doesn't necessary need to be a G gauge unit; a Hornby or similar one for smaller scales will do for testing.
If so, connect it to the track and use the Volts DC setting on the meter, and connect the leads to each rail.
Turn up the knob on your controller, and you will see a reading from 0 volts up to whatever the max voltage it can output.
Turn the knob the other way, or set the direction switch and you will see the polarity of the voltage change to opposite of that earlier....
Firstly, do you have a means of applying power to the track, i.e. a suitable transformer or controller? This doesn't necessary need to be a G gauge unit; a Hornby or similar one for smaller scales will do for testing.
If so, connect it to the track and use the Volts DC setting on the meter, and connect the leads to each rail.
Turn up the knob on your controller, and you will see a reading from 0 volts up to whatever the max voltage it can output.
Turn the knob the other way, or set the direction switch and you will see the polarity of the voltage change to opposite of that earlier....
With a power supply connected, I would suggest applying a good load across the rails at the most remote point (car headlamp bulb or something like that) and checking across each joint with the meter set to low DC volts. There should be no appreciable drop across any one joint. That way you can identify any poor joints and correct them now.