Amp Meter or Ammeter

[dtb]

Does anyone have these wired in to their DCC layouts. Is it necessary and are there any suitable for DCC. I have seen plenty of the DC variety.

Thanks

[Walkingthedog]

I don’t and have never really seen the point. Just another gizmo to make playing trains seem more technical.If they run OK they run OK.

[jed10]

Not cheap but a really nicely put together item:
https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/alp ... dc-or-dcc/

[teedoubleudee]

I have a lot of lighting and other animated electronic features on my my 00 layout including two home made shuttle tracks (neither shown on the track plan as they are fully automatic). All this uses 12 volts and a separate supply of 5 volts for all the logic level stuff eg microprocessors. So I have separate volt & amp meters to monitor them should owt go wrong! Certainly not a gimmick in my case.

[Brian]

Hi
Depending on your DCC system, some can provide the DCC current to track reading - The NCE range is one such.

DCC Panel meters are quite expensive retailing at around £80.00 and I have to ask, do you really need one? Other styles of panel meter will not work on the DCC frequency.

[Walkingthedog]

I used to have all those things TWD but what would the meters actually show you. If something stops working it stops what ever it is supposed to do. How will a volt and amp meter tell you there is a fault. Not being argumentative just interested. I have a multimeter for checking a loco or a component but I don’t understand how it is any use just attached to the layout. Always willing to learn, in fact never stopped.

[teedoubleudee]

Why is it whenever I post anything here it either gets totally ignored or someone has to poo poo it. Really starting to wonder why I bother.

These modules I've used came from China and cost a few pounds. They are accurate as tested with my multimeter.

Listen guys, if it works for me it works for me. Not trying to convert anyone to my way of doing things.

[RogerB]

That’s the important bit - Rule #1 - and it applies to us all. I took the replies to be directed at the OP not you TDD. R-

[Walkingthedog]

Don’t think anybody poo poo'd it TWD.

I am really interested as to what the meters do if the is a fault on the layout. What do they tell you.

[Brian]

I think the issue is the OP wants and is asking about a DCC meter to measure track current. These are very specalist meters and cost far more than most "Standard" meters do! The meters shown are not suitable for measuring DCC or connecting to an AC supply, but they work very well on DC power supplies as often used for lighting or similar. I have one on my control panel monitoring DC power for all the layouts servo power and layout lighting.