Track power indicator

[Hugh Norwood]

(I know, I know... you can buy these things....)
A quick little thing that shows the presence and polarity of power on the track; the active parts are a red/green bi-colour LED and a 560 ohm resistor. When the red crocodile clip is positive, the LED glows red and when the green crocodile clip is positive, the LED glows green...

[Gerhard Novak]

If you can buy it or not doesn't make a difference - you made it, you had probably fun making it and it is useful for you. So all boxes are ticked. I like this approach.

[Keith Hicks]

Have you got a wiring diagram for this ?  See my post dated 27/11/17 - Keith

[WALLSHIRTS]

Does this work with common return? Circuit diagram please.
Mal.

[Scottish Modeller]

(I know, I know... you can buy these things....)
A quick little thing that shows the presence and polarity of power on the track; the active parts are a red/green bi-colour LED and a 560 ohm resistor. When the red crocodile clip is positive, the LED glows red and when the green crocodile clip is positive, the LED glows green...

Hi Hugh,

A nice bit of lateral thinking and application.

Yes - something similar can be bought.

For me though - all it takes is a quick rumage in the electronic bits box to fine the components and ten minutes to make it!

Thanks

[Hugh Norwood]

Just picked up on this
Two components - a bi-colour LED and a 560 Ohm resistor in series with it - and two Croc clips.
I'll draw a cct diagram.

track_power_ind by H Norwood, on Flickr

[Keith Hicks]

Thanks for thi.  I'll try it. - Keith

[B.Meldon]

This does not affect the working of this tester in any way however it is perhaps worth mentioning that the early egger-bahn locos made in the 1960's with the Marx nanoperm/microperm motors and the tram locos with the Lima motor run in the opposite direction on the track to all other H0e, 009 and N gauge locos. It is also very difficult to change them without causing damage.

Brian Meldon