I just came across a Lionel 166 whistle controller. Does anyone know how to bench test it with a multimeter and transformer? Or must it be tested live on a working layout?
Thanks.
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Connect it to the transformer and on the output, put a load, perhaps a few lightbulbs or one larger automotive lightbulb. Measure the DC voltage across the light and see if it goes from near zero to a larger value when you push the button.
Thanks. I used fixed 14V from the transformer and wired in 4 #1447 bulbs to the two rightmost posts on the 166 controller for the load. The center button toggled the lamps off as expected, but pushing either the leftmost button (marked "No 1") or the two outer buttons simultaneously barely registered a half-volt DC on my multimeter before the fuse in the meter blew. The lamps were wired in parallel and I measured the DC current across the two leads of the lamps. Perhaps I wired incorrectly or the unit really is defective? Guess I could try it with a real whistle tender on a piece of track if necessary.
If the fuse in your meter blew, you had the test leads in the current connections and NOT the voltage connections! The voltage connections aren't fused.
My meter is a very basic (i.e. cheap) unit and only has two connections for the test leads (no separate connections for current vs voltage). The control dial switches between AC voltage, DC voltage, ohms, and DC mA. The fuse is only rated for 500 mA, and after I blew a second one I gave up using the meter to test the controller. I ended up putting a working whistle tender on a piece of track and connected the controller up to it, supplying 14V from the transformer - and got nothing. Can these controllers be serviced?
