Looking for Help for a ZW-C

I don't know the ZW-C, did you try finding the owner manual on the Lionel website and seeing if it has a resettable circuit breaker (not the bricks, the actual ZW-C). That is what I would do to start with.

Thanks, Bigkid, I'm planning to do that this evening.  I was focusing on getting something working so my son could bring his kids over tomorrow.  Now, finally, sitting down to get something to eat and some alcohol.  Time to research.

I managed to get things running with a  Lionel piece I had forgotten I even had, a Powermaster.  That got everything running.  Whew!  Didn't have to go searching for the TPC400 from twenty years ago.

Merry Christmas.

FWIW the manual

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-2982-250.pdf

The fact of no green power indicator (AKA pilot light) implies you may not have had power into the required first jack or socket.

Also, there was another topic where a user broke a pin off in that power entry circuit. https://ogrforum.com/...-lionel-zwc-transfer

And, even though you said you measured, there is also the fact certain newer 180 Watt Powerhouse bricks have a microswitch inside the plug end activated by the 3rd pin plugging into the socket.  Just another reason you might not have power.

https://ogrforum.com/...8#147972075020227488

My impression is, this holiday, everyone and their brother broke out or purchased ZW-C transformers or powerhouses, and then had problems. I've lost count, there has been at least 1-2 per day for the last couple of days.  Obviously we don't see the success stories- mostly the problems but still........

https://ogrforum.com/...c/168529494467953242

https://ogrforum.com/...c/168670231951802877

Again, while technically the powerhouses- the same tips and problems are semi related since the ZW-C uses them

https://ogrforum.com/...c/168811055501878886

Again, the good thing- people are getting active in the hobby and trying to power up and run trains.

The bad- people are finding bad equipment, having trouble finding manuals, typical known electrical problems.

Hoping we honestly can resolve as many as possible and run trains around the tree and bring more people into the hobby.

Merry Christmas.