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With a regular or digital voltmeter ("DVM") - decent DVM's are available on the 'Net, box stores or Harbor Freight relatively inexpensively.   

Once the meter is operating and power is on to the track, just set the meter to the "AC Volt" setting and touch the red wire to the center rail of the track and the black wire to either of the outer rails of the track at various points around the layout and see what it reads. If you're not getting around an 18 volts reading at all test points, then you have a track connectivity issue that needs to be resolved.   

@Richie C. posted:

With a regular or digital voltmeter ("DVM") - decent DVM's are available on the 'Net, box stores or Harbor Freight relatively inexpensively.   

Once the meter is operating and power is on to the track, just set the meter to the "AC Volt" setting and touch the red wire to the center rail of the track and the black wire to either of the outer rails of the track at various points around the layout and see what it reads. If you're not getting around an 18 volts reading at all test points, then you have a track connectivity issue that needs to be resolved.   

@Richie C.,

This a very good start.  You will find huge voltage drops, i.e. those that go all the way down to zero.   However, your approach will work better if there is some kind of load placed on the track.  For example, position a lighted passenger car at the far end of the layout, opposite where the transformer is connected to the track.  Next apply power to the track and make sure it lights up.

Then use your suggested approach.  In this way it will be easy to find which sections of track have low voltage.

Pesky voltage drops only occur when there is current flowing through the track.  The load, in this case the lighted car, makes sure that this is the case.

Mike

Last edited by Mellow Hudson Mike

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