Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Best initial test for a typical steam engine heater is to use a common volt meter (VOM) to test the heater leads for continuity and resistance. If you get an Ohm reading in the 25-50 range or something not far from that, it is likely your heating element is going to work. If you get no resistance, then you have a short to ground and if the Ohm meter doesn't change from a reading of 1, then you have an open circuit with no continuity. Likely a broken heater wire or a bad power lead contact.

Hope that made any sense?