How do you check a NTE5815 Diode before you install to see if they are any good???
Second question, is about a Lionel LW transformer. When whistle button is operated, no nothing. Opened it up and wires are all connected, this has the NTE 5815 in it so copper disk is disconnected.... Sprayed the whistle switch assemebly with cleaner. Any thing else to look for, Would installing a 1N1190AR in place of the copper disk be a easy thing to do???
Marty
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I'm not an expert on specific diodes, but couldn't you check it with a multimeter when voltage is applied to the circuit?
Good Luck!
Many multimeters have a diode test setting so you only need to touch your probe to the specified end. If you don't have a multimeter (you should get one) you can use a good battery and bulb; in one direction the bulb will light, in the other, no light. No light in either direction = bad diode.
If you are using an electronic whistle (not a DC relay operated whistle), make sure you try swapping the wiring to the inner and outer rails as the polarity of the DC offset determines Whistle/Horn or Bell. If your test equipment does not have a bell and the polarity of the track isn't correct for the whistle, nothing will happen.
To make matters worse, I believe the LW polarity is "backwards" from the factory. If going the 1N1190AR route, you may actually want to use a 1N1190A instead to "correct" the polarity (or you can retain the factory polarity and swap the track leads).
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