WORLDWIDE
SHIPPING
FOR CODE 332 or CODE 250 TRACK (45mm TRACK FOR G SCALE)
SUPER PRECISION DIGITAL TRACK GRADE PERCENTAGE INCLINOMETER INSTRUMENT
FACT: RAILROAD TRACK GRADES SHOULD NOT EXCEED 4% GRADE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE
Track grade is the slope of a railroad track. The track grade is expressed as the percentage of its rise for the length of its run. For example,if you have 100 inches of model railroad track, and the train climbs one inch, then the grade is 1%. So when 25 inches of track rise 1 inch the grade is 4%. Maximum grade is the steepest slope your trains can climb. Well planned grades can make a layout interesting. Badly planned ones can be a disaster.
What's My Maximum Grade?
A common question on the online model railroad forums is, "What's the maximum grade I can use?" The popular answer is "Never use grades steeper than two percent." People seem to like simple answers even when the question isn't simple.
THE ACTUAL INSTRUMENT PHOTO AND SPECS.
Features:
•
Brand new, light weight and portable
Brand new, light weight and portable •Extra large LCD display (.400) (3/8"+) (10.16mm)
Extra large LCD display (.400) (3/8"+) (10.16mm)•Degree and slope conversion
Degree and slope conversion •Hold button, auto power off, low battery warning
Hold button, auto power off, low battery warning •Protected against dust and splashing water or coolant
Protected against dust and splashing water or coolant •Easy to use
Easy to useButtons:
1. ON/OFF --- Power switch
2. O% --- Degree (xx.xx°) and percent of slope (yy.yy%) conversion.
3. Calibrate--- Used to reference one angle to another angle.
4. HOLD --- Press this button to hold the display if the measured value needs to be saved.
Specifications:
Resolution: 0.01° (1/100TH OF A DEGREE)
Battery Type: 3V CR2032 X 3 (included)
Working Temperature: 0℃-40℃
Relative Humidity: 40% - 80%
DISCOUNT PRICE IS $79.95
SIMPLE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS:
*PRESS ON/OFF BUTTON FOR TRUE ANGLE
*PRESS THE O% KEY FOR TRACK GRADE
LAY ON TRACK AND READ THE EXACT GRADE.
INSTRUMENT WILL ALWAYS STAY CALIBRATED TO TRUE LEVEL WHEN TURNED ON AT ANY ANGLE.
AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF FEATURE TOO!
WWW.CHOOCHOOSTUFF.COM
Rugged Waterproof
All Steel Case
Size
2.00" x 2.00" x 1.00" deep
(50.8mm x 50.8mm x 25.4mm)
Track Grades: Prototypical vs. Toy Train
Some builders of prototypical model railroads will ridicule any grade steeper than 2%. And perhaps not without justification.
In real-life railroading there are three classes of grades; 0.8% to 1% is "light grade", 1% to 1.8% is "heavy grade", and anything greater than 1.8% is "mountain grade".
So perhaps it's not unreasonable to look at layouts with grades greater than 2% and call them "toy train" layouts.
But that doesn't make it courteous... or kind.
Maximum grade is frequently dictated by available layout space. Don't let the implied requirement that if one is building a small layout it should be flat.
We take a mountain grade railroad over a flat oval or figure eight any day!
Maximum Track Grade and Train Issues
So just what is the maximum grade you can use?
Maximum grade is a function of three factors: the power of your locomotives, the weight of your locomotives, and the number and weight of the cars in your trains.
That the locomotive's power is a factor is common sense; a weak locomotive won't pull many cars up a grade.
But how the weight of the locomotive's affects maximum grade isn't quite so obvious.
The greater the weight, the greater the traction.
This means wheels on lighter locomotives may slip where heavier locomotives can climb a grade.
So larger scale locomotives may handle steep grades better than smaller scales.
Good scale locomotives can pull around 15 cars up a 4% grade.
But to some modelers 15 cars is too short a train
WE ARE HAPPY TO OFFER THIS FINE TRACK INCLINOMETER INSTRUMENT AT A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE.
IT WAS DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO SAVE MANY, MANY HOURS OF LABOR IN LAYING YOUR TRACK GRADES AND THEN REALIZING IT IS TOO STEEP TO BE PRACTICAL AND THEN WASTING YOUR TIME TRYING TO GET IT CORRECT SEVERAL MORE TIMES, YOU KNOW THE FRUSTRATION INVOLVED IN HAVIN TO RE DO YOUR EFFORTS ALL OVER AGAIN..
HOW MAY TIMES HAS TRACKSIDE CHATTER TURNED INTO SOMEONE SAYING THAT
THEY THINK YOUR TRACK GRADE IS TOO STEEP?
NOW YOU CAN VERIFY
YOU HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE TRACK GRADE... AND PROVE IT INSTANTLY!
SENIOR CITIZENS 55+ OR VETERANS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT
Please note:
All sales are final. All items we sell are have a no return for cash refund policy, we will replace any defective parts or items at our cost,and will give you a merchandice credit for items you return at your expense and we will exchange it for other items we sell, you pay shipping costs. Thank you for understanding we are not a big box chain store and take returns if you change your mind etc. 07-19-2009
