Need to confirm operating Conventional & Command Control correctly

You are correct for the ZW-L.  In command mode, you set the dials on the transformer to max.  You then dial up the power on each channel using the CAB2.  To run command engines, you dial the power up to max using the CAB2.  To run conventional, you dial up enough power for the engine to run.  I use my ZW-L this exact way to run both conventional and command locs.  Works fine.  The ZW-C does the same thing in command mode with one exception.  The B & C channels will default to the power as set by their handles (no need to dial up the power).  Lionel removed that feature when they built the ZW-L.  They thought it made more sense to power up each channel via the CAB2. 

A fixed or variable cab2 feature to control the ZW-L would be a cool feature.  But it does not exist.

Joe,  Thank you VERY much for confirming what I thought.  I was concerned that I was missing something.  I need to explain this to a fellow who is not that familiar with command control, and has an extensive conventional livery he want to use.  Which I dont blame him.  What will make it confusing is the Bell/Whistle usage.  The way he has his layout set up, Track 1 is on the perimeter and Tracks 2 and 3 on the inside.  Given that the A and D handles are the only ones the Bell/Whistle will work, he will end up with.  Track 2 = Handle A, (TR 1), Track 1 = Handle B, (TR2), Track 3 = Handle D (TR4), and Handle C (TR3) - Not Used.  But, he will just have to get use to it.

Thanks again!! Really appreciate your reply.

If you are controlling the ZW-L with the CAB2 to run conventional engines, then you can use the whistle,bell, and direction buttons from the CAB2.  You do not need to use the transformer buttons.  You will have complete control for each channel from the remote.

The only time you will have an issue is when you do not have a CAB2.  If you are using the ZW-L in conventional mode, without a remote, then you have no bell/whistle directional control for channels b& c.

Joe,  That will really make it a lot easier!  I didn't realize that the CAB2 will work for channel B&C !!  I can then reassign the tracks to Track 1= TR1 etc.  So much easier!!!  Thanks a lot!!!

Don you wrote "I have left the ZW-C transformer in the default condition".

The default condition for the ZW-C is handle A is 1, B is 2, and so on. You will end up controlling both transformers at once rather than separately. You can set the ZW-C to conventional by setting it to 0.

I believe the default for the ZW-C is ID 0, at least that's how mine came.

And yes, in a command environment, all channels of the ZW-C/L will have direction control and bell and whistle from a Cab handheld.

An item of note, about the ZW-C anyway, sometimes when you turn the power bricks on in command mode, even the B/C channels come up at zero volts, and you have to address it and dial them up.  Or do like I do and power cycle the brick a couple more times until those channels come up at full voltage.

Steve Musso posted:

Don you wrote "I have left the ZW-C transformer in the default condition".

The default condition for the ZW-C is handle A is 1, B is 2, and so on. You will end up controlling both transformers at once rather than separately. You can set the ZW-C to conventional by setting it to 0.

Steve,  THANKS for the heads up!!!  I need to check that out!!  I'm using the ZW-C as a support transformer for Switches, Accessories, Lights, etc..  As GRJ said, he has over 1500 watts to run this layout with, bit of an overkill !!.  But, he wants BOTH transformers in operation, for his wife's benefit.

If you power up the ZW-C before turning on the base (TMCC or Legacy) it will come up in conventional mode and stay there when the base is turned on. One of those things you learned the hard way.

You can also have the ZW-C's four outputs labeled as 5-8 so you can control them via the CAB-2 as well. It sounds like you may never need to adjust them since they are just for accessories but, if that's not the case, then all 8 transformer outputs could be accessible via. the remote.

For the ZW-L, it can be programmed as a track or engine.

Programmed as a Track: If you have CAB2 revision 1.4 or higher you can use tr 1-98 as the ids.  You are not limited to tr 1-9.  When programmed as a track, you have three momentum levels to control the track voltage.  L - 32 steps, M - 100 steps, H - 200 steps.  High gives you the greatest control over the voltage.

Programmed as an Engine: The control mode sets the speed steps: Cab1 - 32 steps, TMCC - 100 Steps, Legacy 200 steps.  When programmed as an Engine, the momentum (L, M H) controls how fast it goes to the next step (just like engines).

Joe,

So are you saying that the response or "feel" of the ZW-L, set to TR at 200 steps, would be different than having it set to ENG at 200 steps? Or would it behave the same?

Thanks,

Mike

They would be the same.  Its just configured differently for TR versus Eng.  For TR you set the speed steps via the L, M, H buttons.  For ENG, you set it via the control mode (CAB1, TMCC, Legacy).

With that said... If you set the ZW-L up as an Eng, and say configure it for Legacy control (which gives you 200 speed steps) you can then ALSO get momentum of L, M, H for those 200 speed steps.

For Example.  Say you configured the ZW-L as an Engine, Legacy control.  And also set the momentum to high (pressing H).  If you spin the red knob on the cab2, it will take it longer to increase to the desired setting versus setting it to L and spinning the red knob.  This mimics setting the momentum of an engine to H and then cranking up the speed.  The engine will slowly increase speed to the desired setting.

Wanted to THANK all of you for your help.  Reconfigured the transformer assignments and checked the ZW-C for correct programming, and everything is working GREAT.  Track 1 IS Track 1, etc..

Thank you ALL !