250 watt ZW Transformer Struggles to power 2 trains

Fishman,

Yep.  I agree, that smoke unit is clearly drawing a lot of power.  I also agree with the guys commenting that you have a lot of lights drawing power.

Not sure if I'd seen your layout before, but it's so similar to mine, I had to point that out.  Like yours, mine is put together in a puzzle-like fashion.  All the individual 8 X 10 boards are doweled into each other, not glued.   As for the basement, it's a nice large room, all built by my father in 1967.   He owned his own TV and repair store and could build anything.  As president of the local TV association, he would have 20 guys down there for their meetings.

If you get the chance, I'd love to see pics of the layout construction.

Jerry

graz posted:

TexasSP posted:

bmoran4 posted:

C W Burfle posted:

I believe that Nick was just referring to the slow acting breakers in the postwar ZW's. Yes, you could augment them with separate, fast-acting units but most folks probably just assume that the internal protection is adequate.

Therein lies the rub.
How many times has the subject of using external protection with ZW and KW transformers been discussed here?
If folks don't understand what is being discussed in those threads, or are unwilling to add the external protection, then they should not be using those transformers.

I get frustrated when people recommend $1000 of new transformer and command equipment when under $20 can get you adequate breakers and TVS diodes to use what one already has in serviceable condition.

Agreed,  I fail to see what a 750 dollar ZWL will provide me that the a couple of ZW's and fast blowing fuses won't all for under 250.  When it comes to the TIU, it doesn't seem to care much.  I have powered it with bricks and the ZW.

If I was to do anything different, I would probably buy more Z1000 bricks.

Well, this is an instance of only looking at your own scenario rather than any of the possible options that other users might be experiencing.

I'm running four separate loops and each can be populated with TMCC/Legacy locos or Postwar conventional locos. The ZW-L allows for remote control of all 4 of the handles so I can run those conventional loops almost the same way as the TMCC loops. I didn't have to buy four separate powermasters to do it. If I add 4 of those to a couple of postwar ZW's and separate breakers, I'm at about the same price as a ZW-L.

 

Not really, as the subject wasn't about conventional control.  I would say that the reverse of your statement is true by your own admission in your post.  You're only addressing your situation which is completely unrelated to the original topic and issue stated.

Even if I ran 4 loops, or 6 loops, the ZWL offers no advantage to me or anyone running DCS.  Independent control of voltage provides no benefit in this environment.  The same environment the original post was discussing.

Also in DCS the voltage can be controlled remotely via the TIU and the variable channels with both the DCS remote and DCS Wifi App.  Not sure how remotely controlling this through the transformer could offer any advantage.

As a power source assuming it has been maintained, the old ZW can work perfectly fine, within its limits, a transformer is not exactly rocket science, and the fundamentals haven't changed, and you can get a couple of refurbished ZW's for half the price of a Z4000, not even gonna mention the ZW-L, you just have to remember it wasn't designed for modern equipment and you need protection with a fast blow circuit breaker and probably TVS, not hard to do, but you have to remember to do it. 

Me personally, I have a ZW and KW, and if money is tight I'll go that route, and eventually upgrade to modern transformers along with Legacy and/or DCS when the time and money allows it, I love the new ZW-L from what I have seen of it (kind of neat to have something that reminds me of old Betsy my ZW but has all the power I could want with protection,meters, a fan to cool it), but can't afford it at this time. 

Big Kid,

   Very good analysis I agree about the cost of the ZW-L.  I like the transformer and eventually I will purchase one used, for a decent cost.  My Z4K's get the job done 2 of which I purchased used at great costs, and they were in great shape.  Further my old ZW's and KW's are still used everyday also.  

IMO the cost of these new modern Transformers is border line crazy!  

PCRR/Dave

Almost went with a 4th old rebuild ZW from Jim Lawson until a couple of the members decided to sell their Z4K's for the money they needed to off set the cost of purchasing new ZW-L's.  I picked them both up for more than reasonable prices.  I have 3 old ZW's now and all are in like new condition, however once I understood more about the Z4K's  I went that way for the modern power supply, especially with the Side Receiver option.