Interior lights of K-line Federal Observation Car not working

Do you own a voltmeter? I would start by tracing the wires, under power, until I found the open circuit.

Thanks, Arthur!

I should have one, now I will have one! It has been on my list for a long time!

I appreciate the advice.

Cheers,

Bill

Here's a very useful model for the train room.

6 Function Mini Digital Clamp Meter

The ability to read AC current without breaking the wire is very useful.

Nice little unit, but the AC current range starts at 20 amps so kinda useless at the low current levels of lamps etc that we have on trains.

I work in electronic distributing and have yet to find someone who makes a LOW LOW clamp on current meter.  Only reason I can think it not done is the sensor can't be made sensitive enough for low ranges without it picking up the 60/120 Hz radiation that exists in a house wiring that would cause erronous reading.   Seems like this would not be hard device to design/make, but maybe no need for it exists in the "real world".  But then I could be wrong on this guess. 

Think outside the box.

The current range starts at 20amps full scale.  I just checked an 1826 bulb running at 18 volts, and it comes in at 140ma, pretty close I would say.  It has a resolution to 10ma on the 20A scale.  Other than LED's that draw a few mils, I think it works fine for the uses I have in mind for it.

Thank you, gunrunnerjo and rrman. You have fantastic knowledge - I appreciate your input. I definitely will get a meter, now I have to decide which one!!

Thanks again, and Cheers!

Bill

If you are trying to measure a small current and there is sufficient slack in the wire, take the wire that you are measuring the current in and loop it through the clamp several times. The meter then sees multiples of the actual current. By dividing the meter reading (the apparent current indicated by the meter) by the number of times the wire passes through the loop you will get the actual current in the wire.  Using this technique you should be able to measure currents smaller than the meter's minimum with reasonable accuracy.  Pat B.

Correct, my older Sperry clamp-on with a 0-50A range came with a x-10 adapter to measure 0-5A full scale.  You can measure very accurately, you're creating a transformer with a 1:10 turns ratio.

Thanks, Guys for that great info! Just yesterday I replaced 3 of the 4 bulbs and ,"Voila", all lights are working.

I will definitely be able to utilize the suggestions and knowledge you have passed on to this electrical novice! I'm going to be adding some things to my toolbox!

Much appreciated, and Cheers!

Bill

I have some K-Line Fleet of Moderinism coaches with lights out. Thanks for this great post and all the advice. I just ordered a meter as well.

OGR forms (and the magazine) and the folks on them have sure enhanced my enjoyment of my trains!

B&OBill

Roger that!!!

Bill

Me too.  But I just tell visitors that they are Pullman cars and the passengers are  sleeping!  

Pennsy Bill