Testing Your Wiring

It is very important to test your wiring.  You don't want to be remembered as the new club member that shorted out the whole layout!  Testing is very easy and takes only about 15 minutes.  All you need are a few wires (alligator clip wires from Radio Shack are very handy), a light bulb (sure you can use that lighted accessory) and that old set transformer.   Connect a wire from the transformer to one side of the light bulb.   Connect the other side of the light bulb to the center rail of track 1.  Connect a test lead to the other side of the transformer.  Now take the test lead and touch it to each of the following locations one at a time:  female connector, Pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, male connector pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, track 1 Rail 1 (front most outer), 2 (center) and 3, track 2, rail 1, 2, 3, and track 3 rail 1, 2 and 3.  The light bulb should only light when you touch female connector pin 1, mail connector pin 1 and track 1, rail 2 (center). Note: it is just as important to test that connections that should not light as well those that should light.  Repeat by moving the connector from track 1 rail 2 and placing it on track 2 rail 2 then track 3 rail 2.  Only the connector pins 2 and 3 should be activated respectively.  Next connect the lead from the bulb to track 1 rail 1.  Connector pins 4 and all outer rails should light when tested.  All other locations should not light.  The final two tests are for pin 5 and pin 6.  Only pin 5 and pin 6 should light respectively for these.

Use this chart to record your test.  Try all rows for each column, an X indicates where you should get a light.