Has anyone used these ammeters available on Ebay?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

While browsing Ebay, I came across these 20 amp AC panel-mount ammeters

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270159415049&Category=73158&_trksid=p3907.m29

The price certainly seems right, and they appear to be perfect for use in a permanant-installation application on the layout. At the same time, however if I bought some I’d likely order several(especially with the cost of shipping from China) and hate to spend that sort of money on junk.

Has anyone ordered these or similar meters? If so, what do think of them?

Thanks,
Ben

2

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270159415049&Category=73158&_trksid=p3907.m29

Same link, but clickable.

The scale looks to be compressed at the low end to a degree that I think would make the meter not very useful with typical toy-train currents.

3

I agree with Bob. The range on the amp meter is 0-20 amps. I can’t think of anything in the toy train world that would even approach pulling 20 amps. Most of it’s range would be wasted.

George

4

I got the ammeters for my layout from Loy’s Toys they work great and have a usable scale for train operation.

Jim

5

Looking again, it doesn’t look like these would be all that useful, and the meters only have a linear range of about 5A to 10A.

Although I really wanted analog meters, I wonder if these digital meters from the same place would be any better

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-1-2-Blue-LCD-Digital-AMP-Panel-Meter-AC-20A-Shunt_W0QQitemZ280187025963QQihZ018QQcategoryZ25411QQcmdZViewItem

Anyway, thanks again, it looks like I’ll pass on the analog ones for the time being.

6

Ben

I have a couple of inexpensive 15 amp analog panel meters from ALL Electronics stored somewhere in my stuff in Greensboro. If you wish, e-mail me your snail mail adress and when I return there I will give you one to check out. I bought a dozen several years ago at $10 each–[shipping $12 whether 1 or 12]. I gave most of them away since I favor and use DER 0-20 amp analog Aac meters and 0-25 Vac meters.[DER 670 meters are assembled in Taiwan of Japanese components and distributed by a New Zealand company. Typically, 500 unit minimum orders per spec are the rule when sourcing meters from China,the Pacific Rim or Indian sub-continent meter producers].

For general monitoring of o-gauge equipment or the total load on a single railpower district, inexpensive[$15-20] moving magnet AC meters are sufficient. If you desire precise low range measurement of a specific engine or consist, small reliable handheld “clamp” shop/field meters from Sperry,Wiggins,Klein and others at $60-100 are at Graybar,GE Supply,etc. Also you can buy the more accurate iron vane movement AC analog panel meters at $80-110 from Mouser, Newark Electronics,etc.

Finding a ready source of inexpensive but reliable [2-2-1/2% accuracy variation] low range AC panel meters,analog or digital, has not been easy since Radio Shack abandoned the AC panel meter business 6 years ago. Due to a special contact made thru a former customer in Hong Kong, I sourced small lots of 50-100 units and sold nearly 400 DER 670 panel meters to o-gaugers, primarily members of the Forum[s], at cost—usually about $28 a pair or set, one Aac, one Vac. Foreign exchange[value of the dollar], air freight and LA Customs were cost variables that always affected price. Priority mail/padded mailer tended to add about $5 S&H.

I quit sourcing and selling meters at cost because of time consummed by medical upsets. Also, I le