ammeter / volt meter for test track

Have you tried searching on Ebay?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-30V-VoltMeter-Analog-Panel-meter-Pointer-voltmeter-AC-0-30V-/281111223590

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Class-2-5-Accuracy-AC-0-50A-Analog-Panel-Ammeter-85L1-/351095231964

Google "Light Object" for inexpensive analog panel meters .

Example of 0-15 amp unit below

 

 

 

If you are "testing" locos and such, a digital meter is a lot more accurate than analog, but if you just want to know "approximate" measurements, then analog are fine...FYI!

jhz563
Here is a set that was purchased from "Light Object" they were inexpensive and have worked well to monitor amperage and voltage.  You can't go wrong.

 

John

 

I just finished a test stand recently. It was after reading lots and lots of posts from other members. It's built on copying members information.

 

One thing to point out. A lot of the guys / gals suggested to use the 0-15 AMP and the 0-20 volts gauges.

 

Mainly because we don't look for any higher readings that that and easy to read them as well.

 

Mine are from e-bay (via China) as well. Good luck with your project.

 

Larry

 

 

 

 

John,

You should work with Larry Sr as he's recently completed this project and did a fantastic job.  He may be able to save you some 'pit falls' as you progress.

 

Good luck, let's see it when you're done!

Thanks for the info everyone. I have already checked into light object and I see what I  need.  I will post again whenI get this project off the ground. 

If I remember my 4th grade arithmetic correctly, at the normal 10 amp max load of a power district, the 2-1/4% variation of the  inexpensiveimported Pacific Rim AAC meters is only about 1/4 amp.

Precise enough for Toy Trains I think. 

 

The sarcasm on "cheap" didn't make it through well. I saw the brand.

I think the cheap ones are more like class 5-7.

 

Selecting a scale of 15-20 amps should be plenty. Two large, broken but running post war engines, would have trouble reaching that 15 amp mark

.

And 0-15a will normally give more accuracy than one that reads 0-20+ amps.

 

 It really should be matched to read the power supplies maximum amps.

Or be fused at the meters limit if you have a very high amp supply, but only test at lower low amps, so you wish a low read meter for accuracy. (a fused meter isn't a bad idea anyhow)

I recently purchased a few toggle switches and some momentary on switches from jameco.com.  They sent a free catalog of their products.  They offer both Analog and LCD Digital Meters.  Prices ranged from $9.95 to $12.95 for analog meters and $7.95 to $14.95 for LCD Digital meters.  You might find them cheaper, but this is a starting place.

 

Here is the link to my panel set up for my Trolley line:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t.../my-new-panel-meters

I use a hand held controller to get better slower starts....

 

Martin

Not as good as panel meters, but I use a Harbor Freight Digital Multimeter.

I also have an old Radio Shack Analog meter. Cost each was about $10.

You can jump either one to the track with clip leads or leads with alligator clip ends.

One of these days I'll do a setup with panel meters so I'm saving this thread.

I use the HF clamp-on to measure current, it's a great $10 investment.

 

These are the two I use..Am very happy with them,,,SThe read  outs are very clear:This is the amp meter:  http://www.lightobject.com/AC-...anel-Meter-P196.aspx.    And this is the volt meter:http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-AC...;hash=item2a37035d62 a plus for any control panel....

 

Marty

John Z

You can make a simple two-meter panel from 1/8" Masonite and mount it in a cheap 4x6 picture frame if you don't want to fabricate something. The barrel of most standard and inexpensive analog meters requires a 2" hole saw for mounting and four 1/8" holes for the retaining studs. 

I suggest a 0-30 VAC range for a voltmeter and 0-15 AAC for the amp meter. If you get higher range meters they don't read far enough up the scale on basic 18-20 volt and 10 amp power districts for easy viewing. Volt meters are wired across the line[parallel] , amp meters are wired inline[series]

 

A several of my old photos show the general idea....

 

 

 

I am looking for a digital version of the analog merters talked about above.  Want to add them to a Lionel zw.  Looked on line and can't find one. A 2 in 1 didital merter would be great for V & A on the same unit. Does anyone know where to pick digital meters for ac in the 0-30v & 0-10A range. 

 

Thanks,

 

rad400

I got a bunch of these to add to my test track and layout, very reasonable.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...mp;tid=1652955067016

No longer available Ron.

 

This purchased item information is no longer available.

Sorry about that, try this link, new posting on ebay.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Di...?hash=item20ef697724

That appears to be a DC meter Ron, I'm sure you must have used an AC meter.

 

 

• Measuring range: DC 0-100V 0-50A (more than 10A need shunt)

John,  I am just in the process of connecting them to layout, this might be one of those "Doohhhhh" moments, I am not well versed in the AC/DC elements of wiring.

I have to check to see which ones I did buy.

John, I did purchase the DC meter, what would the consequences have been had I gotten finished and powered it up?

I did have the shunt wired in, does that negate the accuracy or even work for this application?

Basically the consequences would be that it won't do anything.   I fooled with DC panel meters and rectifiers trying to simulate an AC meter, I could never get satisfactory results.  I was doing them for a voltmeter car, and I couldn't find suitable AC meters at the time.

 

 

That is good to know, guess it will be analog then until one shows up AC. What gauges does MTH use in the z4000?

I don't really have a clue, but I suspect that MTH actually uses panel meters and generates the voltage display internally in the uP.  I base that on the fact that the voltages don't always agree exactly.

 

Does anyone know why there are lots of DC digital panel in low voltage rating 0-30V, but all of the digital AC panel meters I find on line are in the 80 to 300V range.  The same holds true for AC amp meters. 

 

I wonder what Lionel used when they had their digital meter add on for the zw, 10 years ago.

 

rad400

John Z,

   I use the Harbor Freight mini clamp on multi meter, for actuals on my test & Programming Track,

I see no need for building any thing with permanent meters now.

PCRR/Dave

I think the reason that there's lots of low voltage DC stuff is there's lots of low voltage DC applications.  When you think about it, there aren't many low voltage AC applications, that's why all the meters are 120 volts or more.

 

What gauges does MTH use in the z4000?

The z4000 uses digital "led" read out on the displays

Alan

led stands for "light emitting diode"

My plans are to utilize an old analog Simpson 260 multimeter tied into the test track.  I wonder if not being able to instantaneously monitor both voltage and amps, without switching between the 2, has any drawbacks? 

 

Also have the same type running stands as Larry Sr.  I can see the entire workbench design and build isn't going to simply be a weekend project.  Like I need more jobs.

 

Bruce

I'd probably just get analog meters from eBay, they're plentiful in the right ranges.  Line up a matching amp and volt meter and you'll have it covered for around $10.

 

I have to say, I do what Dave does, I use a clamp-on if I want to measure current on my bench setup, I don't have to do that most of the time.  Ditto for voltage, I know pretty much what voltage is applied, I just look at the transformer.

 

I have a 2A in-line circuit breaker for the bench supply, that keeps a really bad short from cooking anything.  It's extremely rare that I'd need more than 2 amps of power for bench testing, so that isn't a problem.  I've incorporated the 2A breaker in both my PS/2 and PS/3 testsets as well, there's never a time that I can recall that either of those should need more power when testing a board.

Dave, 

  I actually have a good multimeter at home. After I started this thread I did use it to do some diagnostics.  I was initially afraid that it wouldn't work at low ac voltages but was pleasantly surprised.   I still think I will build a test bench eventually that will have meters permanently mounted.  This thread got me thinking that on my eventual finish layout I might even include some meters hiding in plain sight.  I am thinking of something like a clock tower with a volt or ammeter display. Another possibility would be a roof top bill board -think of a Reddy Kilowatt figure on a billboard that happens to i clude a working volt meter.

Anyway,  thank you for the suggestion, good luck with your projects. 

John Z.

 I like the clock idea. It works as a digital thing too for those to young to remember clocks being on signs everywhere, and in plain sight in most businesses.

(is the lack of them today regional? What's near you? Many, few, none?)

 

Ron, I think I have a spare set of meters for what you need.  Contact me offline if interested.  They are analog.

Two bits of info are better than one.

I think I'd rather monitor amperage drawn. A visual fuse if you will.

 Because we adjust voltage to suit our needs.

Unless of course, you want a more throttle orientated read then go volts.

  

I like amperage better to monitor serious changes in a device.

I like voltage to monitor a supply output.

Good diagnostics take both.

  Many controls at least have markings to indicate approximate voltages too. That leaves amps totally unknown, and without reference.