https://www.aliexpress.com/ite...BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Note the low end of range, one starts at 20 volts, and the other at 12.
Like Paul says, neither of these are that useful for O-gauge voltages.
choochoopaul posted:Note the low end of range, one starts at 20 volts, and the other at 12.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Like Paul says, neither of these are that useful for O-gauge voltages.
If you run only command, would the 12 volt one be useful?
CAPPilot posted:choochoopaul posted:Note the low end of range, one starts at 20 volts, and the other at 12.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Like Paul says, neither of these are that useful for O-gauge voltages.
If you run only command, would the 12 volt one be useful?
I would think so..should read your track voltage and ac current.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Like Paul says, neither of these are that useful for O-gauge voltages.
Why not?
If I may hop side saddle onto this thread;
Recommendation for a dozen pair of Z-1000 conventional use AC volt and amp gauges
Recommendation for a dozen pair of conventional use DC volt and amp gauges.
Digital or analog. I am looking to not to cash in a CD.
Thanks, tt
What help would a meter be if it showed 20 volts with no power, and 20 volts with full power?
I guess if you don't care about voltage below 12, you can use it. However, for $1.20, I suspect the accuracy, especially at the low end of the voltage range, isn't going to be astounding. YMMV, I'll revise my comment to say I wouldn't use it.
Tom Tee posted:If I may hop side saddle onto this thread;
Recommendation for a dozen pair of Z-1000 conventional use AC volt and amp gauges
Recommendation for a dozen pair of conventional use DC volt and amp gauges.
Digital or analog. I am looking to not to cash in a CD.
Thanks, tt
Tom, the Z-1000 is somewhat problematic as it is a chopped waveform transformer. Most of the AC gauges will not measure the voltage accurately as they don't do true-RMS readings. My experience has been that some of the analog meters seem to do better with the chopped waveform than the digital models.
choochoopaul posted:What help would a meter be if it showed 20 volts with no power, and 20 volts with full power?
With no power display is off. With power applied it should display your voltage for ex: z1000 18vac, or wall voltage 110vac.
Not for me as I run at 24V.
I am using one of these now...(2) Z1000's pass through it. Uses wall voltage to operate(upper display) and displays ac amps(lower display) while trains in operation. I live by the meter reads..running a 5 and 6 engine mu all power (that would be 22 can motors)towing 60+ cars at the same time i can monitor the current.
It would be nice to have a meter powered by your track supply instead of wall power hence the interest in the 12 to 500vac operation input from the meters at the top of this post.
Attachments
Images (2)
Casey Jones2 posted:Not for me as I run at 24V.
I hope you're not running any Lionel stuff, max voltage is 19V.
I run these Analog Meters on my G scale outdoor DC layout, they should work for AC also. Pulsed power does not seem to affect them. I like these because they are zero center and read in forward and reverse.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-An...443?oid=122789402259
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-An...366?oid=122789261884
Most of the track powered digital meters have a 5v threshold and won't read below that. They also won't read in reverse.
Chris Sheldon
gunrunnerjohn posted:Tom Tee posted:If I may hop side saddle onto this thread;
Recommendation for a dozen pair of Z-1000 conventional use AC volt and amp gauges
Recommendation for a dozen pair of conventional use DC volt and amp gauges.
Digital or analog. I am looking to not to cash in a CD.
Thanks, tt
Tom, the Z-1000 is somewhat problematic as it is a chopped waveform transformer. Most of the AC gauges will not measure the voltage accurately as they don't do true-RMS readings. My experience has been that some of the analog meters seem to do better with the chopped waveform than the digital models.
I agree with you John. You have to have a RMS meter to read a chopped sine wave.
I ordered some of these and they arrived a few days ago. Haven't yet had a chance to try them out. They should be good ranges for our train power to the tracks. At least our volt/amp ranges are within their readable range anyway.
US Stock Blue LCD Digital Volt Panel Meter Voltmeter AC 0~600V 4 Wire
US Stock Blue LCD Digital AMP Current Panel Meter Ammeter AC 20A & Shunt
They were a little more than I wanted to pay, but I have been looking for Digital AC meters for a few years now so I took the bait. 
I am pretty sure this is the same supplier I got my digital meters from when I copied GRJ's voltage car a few years ago. I also have some of their analog meters for my layout track volts/amps, again purchased a few years ago. They were (maybe still are) are quite a bit less expensive than the digital meters. I am thinking about half the price, but could be off a little here as it's been a while.
A couple of points Tom. The Voltmeter will only have 1 volt resolution, so it's of limited utility. Also, both of these meters REQUIRE a totally isolated power supply to power the meter. I suspect, given the usage, that each of their power sources will have to be isolated from each other as well.
Darn, I missed the no decimal places part, but I see that now. Not good, all these things seem to have a drawback somewhere. I knew about the separate power sources from the copy of your voltage car you helped me with, still have a wiring diagram around here for that. I hadn't thought of needing separate power supplies though? I have plenty, but that could be a pain having to use one for each meter.
I asked the seller about different ranges and they said they could get them from their supplier in China, but they had to ship DHL and that was like $45 or so just for shipping. Meters were similarly priced to these, but the shipping makes it difficult to justify.
The only way to make it cost effective would be to do a group buy and get 20-30 of them, then you could spread the shipping cost out. I still have a couple of the proper range ones if I ever find my stuff in all the boxes.
