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9 replies

Lionel ZW-l problems

rboatertoorboatertooOGR Forum Member

Before I call Lionel, i thought I would seek the forum for advice. 

 

I purchase a Lionel zw-l during Charlie's May sale.  I hooked it up to my tiu with each throttle powering one of the tiu four power inputs. Each tiu inputs then powers a loop, with a total of four loops being powered.  It worked great, until two night ago when the the "d" throttle stopped working. I powered it down and check the cars on the track to make sure there was no short. I powered it up and it didn't work (I used a test light to verify). Then I removed everything from the track and tried powering up again, no power.  The other 3 throttles work fine.  I let it rest for the night. the next day I tried it again. The light on the gauges for throttle d lite up until I applied power.  At this point I disconnected the wires from the terminals of throttle d and tried powering it up with no results. I used my test light on the terminals and no power. 

 

I did check the breaker and they weren't blown. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks Jim

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CaptaincogCaptaincogOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Um, brutal comment? I apologize but since I have been working all day I did not see this until now. I had a low voltage output on mine and it ended up going back to Lionel. Since it is heavy they should pay the shipping if you ask. You did not mention if you are using a Legacy or TMCC unit to control it so I am guessing no. Did you try to switch it to one channel output? That will mean that the A side handle control all four channels and check the D side output then. So sorry to inconvenience you.

 

CaptaincogCaptaincogOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by Moonman:

Jim,

it's summer and folks are doing things. That's a premium product. Listen to Jeff. A call to Lionel Customer Service will resolve your issue.

 

No reason to bail. Besides, I want to see the finished layout.

Last night the original poster had two nasty follow up comments posted that now make my comment look like an idiot reply. Those got deleted. Very immature.

GeoPeaksGeoPeaksOGR Forum Member

hi guys I am having the same problem with my new zwl  I was running a legacy loco with freight cars on my new temporary layout and everything was going fine and all of a sudden I lost all power to the track. gauges on zlw do not register any volts or amps. I tried different hookup and everything I can think of to get power to track but nothing works. I hate to say this but I am beginning to not trust anything lionel makes. as this is not the first new thing I have bought from them that stopped working soon after purchase. I hope this is something that can be fixed without costing to much. 

nascarkingnascarkingOGR Forum Member

hi feet had the same problem no more than 15.9 volts from any post, sent back to Lionel they reset (what i don't know) got it back still the same. After 2 weeks breaker started popping, since i have external fuses that did not pop called Lionel again voltages dropped on A B D post to 14.1, sent it back. Received a new (ha ha ha ha) unit hooked up last Nite, applied power to B&C for accessories nothing worked, checked all wires were correct. Applied power to A, engine ran fine but accessories started running. Pulled handle to zero all shut off. Only time "D" throttle has power is when "A" is turned up. Checked 1-4 channel switch makes no difference. With all wires off only "A" has power, unless you throttle up "A" no power to B C D. Lionels great quality control is non-existent  even with repairs.

F feetOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
@nascarking posted:

hi feet had the same problem no more than 15.9 volts from any post, sent back to Lionel they reset (what i don't know) got it back still the same. After 2 weeks breaker started popping, since i have external fuses that did not pop called Lionel again voltages dropped on A B D post to 14.1, sent it back. Received a new (ha ha ha ha) unit hooked up last Nite, applied power to B&C for accessories nothing worked, checked all wires were correct. Applied power to A, engine ran fine but accessories started running. Pulled handle to zero all shut off. Only time "D" throttle has power is when "A" is turned up. Checked 1-4 channel switch makes no difference. With all wires off only "A" has power, unless you throttle up "A" no power to B C D. Lionels great quality control is non-existent  even with repairs.

Mine turned out to be okay. You need a true RMS meter to check these as they are putting out a chopped wave form. I don't think theres a such thing as quality control anymore.

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