Blue Day Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Hi all. It's been a while .....Ive more or less got my track laid and wired via a bus set up. I'm wanting a bit of advice on testing for dead track I.e. track which isn't receiving power for some reason. Best way of testing? 12v bulb with 2 wires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 As good a way as any ... or a multimeter set to AC voltage ... or a specialist track tester (see below)../media/tinymce_upload/544aaa278d5dae559a2fcce14d427330.jpg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 I have one of the second from left. Excellent device. Cheap no need for probes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Or you can go to the other end of the spend chart......and it tells you much the same as those above (I have one of those as well)./media/tinymce_upload/49a1c180052668d115bd87c77263b0eb.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Hay Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 If track testers simply use a light to show power what's the difference in using a slow moving locomotive with lights on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Put it this way, if the loco either with or without lights is running on the layout perfectly OK. Then there is no need to use any tester (with or without lights). The purpose of the tester is to check for consistent distribution of power throughout the layout track when a situation arises where the loco won't run or won't run well..If the tester indicates that there are no track power distribution issues, then that would point to the issue being with the poor running loco itself. The track tester just becomes a convenient loco diagnostic aid. Or put another way, you are not necessarily using the track tester to test the track, you are more likely to be using the track tester to eliminate the track as an issue as part of diagnosing a loco related problem. And as the tester is a much simpler electronic device than a loco with a fitted decoder which doesn't rely on wheel pickup and plug and socket connectivity, then the tester is more likely to give results that can be more readily relied upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDS Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Those Red/Green testers are useless for anyone who is Red/Green colour blind. Like me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2e0dtoeric Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 @RDS - use a car sidelight bulb - you can see that in the dark! :-) If, as written, the O/P has used a BUS, there shouldn't BE any dead areas. That's the whole point of the bus!So either the dead section has not been connected to the bus AND all four of the fishplates (either end of the section) are duff, or there is something else wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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