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I bought a few items from Tony's Train Exchange. First off is the RRampMeter.
Maintaining and analyzing the electrical system of a layout requires accurate measurements of the voltage and amps. When dc was used a standard meter was all that was needed for these measurements. With DCC use of a standard meter most of the time will not give you an accurate measurement. Tests have shown that meters not designed to read the DCC wave forms can be off by as much as ±50%. Even meters that are “true RMS†may not be designed for the frequency range of DCC. The RRampMeter was designed to fill the need for a highly accurate DCC meter to measure of both voltage and amps. The RRampMeter is designed as a flexible tool to monitor and analyze the electrical operation of a layout. It is designed to work not only DCC power but to make accurate measurements of ac and dc. The RRampMeter has an amazing 2% accuracy.
The meter automatically senses and switches the type of power. Only a "true RMS" meter can accurately measure DCC voltage and current.
Easy walk-around measurements of layout voltage drops, accurate booster output setup to optimum voltages for decoders and sound units.
- Inexpensive device that accurately measures DCC Volts/Amps.
- Also measures AC and DC Volts/Amps.
- Rated at 10 or 20 Amps, costs less than DVMs that cannot measure DCC.
- Measures true RMS Volts/Amps, +/- 2%.
- Suitable for all scales.
- No batteries required (if measuring over 7 volts).
- Designed for Left/Right-hand use.
- PCB length 5.63"; Enclosure length 4", width 2", height 1.25"
Amperage must be measured in series by connecting the left set of contacts or clip leads to the input power supply or power source while the right set of contacts or clip leads are connected to the load or isolated track section where current is to be measured.
Voltage can be measured from the left or right set of contacts or clip leads. If measuring voltage only, then either end of the RRampMeter may be used accurately.
Showing a nice and steady 16 volts at my command station:
It sometimes flutters to 15.9, but doesn't go below that.
On the other side of the layout:
This photo is taken about 10 meters away (along the track). It shows that my oversize BUS wires and feeders do the job perfectly. No voltage drop over this distance.
Set up with a spare piece of track not connected to the rest of the layout to test the current drawn from a loco:
This is the Hornby King Arthur Class and it draws about 0.15 amps with wheels slipping and about 0.1 amp when running normally. When completely stalled at full voltage it draws 0.5 amps which is the limit of the decoder. No problem there. I tested some older Hornby locos that draw well over 1 amp when stalled. Interesting.
I'm going to mount this to my control panel. It will measure the overall voltage and current used throughout the layout. It will show if there is any overload or hopefully any situation that may lead to an overload. I'll connect up a test track to the current tester and have a dtdp switch to select either the layout or the test track for selective analysis of individual locos.

Maintaining and analyzing the electrical system of a layout requires accurate measurements of the voltage and amps. When dc was used a standard meter was all that was needed for these measurements. With DCC use of a standard meter most of the time will not give you an accurate measurement. Tests have shown that meters not designed to read the DCC wave forms can be off by as much as ±50%. Even meters that are “true RMS†may not be designed for the frequency range of DCC. The RRampMeter was designed to fill the need for a highly accurate DCC meter to measure of both voltage and amps. The RRampMeter is designed as a flexible tool to monitor and analyze the electrical operation of a layout. It is designed to work not only DCC power but to make accurate measurements of ac and dc. The RRampMeter has an amazing 2% accuracy.

The meter automatically senses and switches the type of power. Only a "true RMS" meter can accurately measure DCC voltage and current.
Easy walk-around measurements of layout voltage drops, accurate booster output setup to optimum voltages for decoders and sound units.
- Inexpensive device that accurately measures DCC Volts/Amps.
- Also measures AC and DC Volts/Amps.
- Rated at 10 or 20 Amps, costs less than DVMs that cannot measure DCC.
- Measures true RMS Volts/Amps, +/- 2%.
- Suitable for all scales.
- No batteries required (if measuring over 7 volts).
- Designed for Left/Right-hand use.
- PCB length 5.63"; Enclosure length 4", width 2", height 1.25"

Amperage must be measured in series by connecting the left set of contacts or clip leads to the input power supply or power source while the right set of contacts or clip leads are connected to the load or isolated track section where current is to be measured.
Voltage can be measured from the left or right set of contacts or clip leads. If measuring voltage only, then either end of the RRampMeter may be used accurately.
Showing a nice and steady 16 volts at my command station:

It sometimes flutters to 15.9, but doesn't go below that.
On the other side of the layout:

This photo is taken about 10 meters away (along the track). It shows that my oversize BUS wires and feeders do the job perfectly. No voltage drop over this distance.
Set up with a spare piece of track not connected to the rest of the layout to test the current drawn from a loco:

This is the Hornby King Arthur Class and it draws about 0.15 amps with wheels slipping and about 0.1 amp when running normally. When completely stalled at full voltage it draws 0.5 amps which is the limit of the decoder. No problem there. I tested some older Hornby locos that draw well over 1 amp when stalled. Interesting.
I'm going to mount this to my control panel. It will measure the overall voltage and current used throughout the layout. It will show if there is any overload or hopefully any situation that may lead to an overload. I'll connect up a test track to the current tester and have a dtdp switch to select either the layout or the test track for selective analysis of individual locos.