Low voltage on output of Lionel 32930 controller

Do you have a command base?

If yes, try setting the ZW ID# to 0, or manual mode. See page 12 of the manual. Hold in program button until light flashes- use remote and press TR >0>SET.

The light should stop flashing. Now manually increase the throttle and check the voltage.

Tried your suggestion. The controller would not take "0" to place it in manual mode. I did turn the controller on with the legacy base still not turned on. The controller was then in manual mode, but would still only have 16.4 - 17 v on the "A" and "D" output terminals. Faulty controller??

Not sure yet. Did you get the blinking lights when you pressed in the program button? Hook the track wire from the base to the U terminal on the A handle. Legacy base on first, then ZW, then try the manual mode set. Hook the track wire from the base to the U terminal on the A handle.

There is a calibration procedure in the manual for the handles. It cautions that it should not be needed, but I did it anyway when I purchased one of these pre-owned. It was an early 1.2 version that had the 1.3 modules sent with it by the previous owner.

That's worth a try.

I tried re-calibration several times as well as hooking up the wire from the base to the U terminal of the A handle. I am still only able to get 16v on the output terminals.  Maybe a mechanical engineer shouldn't mess with this electronic stuff!!!!!

Thanks for your suggestions.

Rich

The ZWC puts some notches in the output waveform to allow for the whistle and bell DC offsets.  Perhaps your meter is seeing those notches.  Also, there is some voltage drop through the output transistors.

There is also some voltage drop going through the output stage I would imagine.  It's normal to see around a volt less out of an electronic transformer than goes in.

Trainman,

is your meter True RMS? 16.5-16.7 seems about right for 18.8v, if it's not an RMS meter, which is what most of my bricks output reads.

I don't even think I lose a quarter of a volt when measured at the track going through the ZW-C.

measured with a calibrated Fluke 88.

Thanks for all your replies. I didn't realize there would be a 1.5v drop thru the controller. Once, again, a mechanical engineer needs help from those who understand just how the electrons flow!!!

Thanks, again

Rich