Need your help deciding on a transformer

I'm partial to the Z-4000.

UL Listed !!!

Sine wave output, no accidental leaving the throttle up high, or switching on with it too high. It locks out power to the track until the handle is lowered to off and raised back up.

Also I see you have some MTH engines on the roster. They don't always play well with transformers that chop the sine wave to change voltage.

Since everyone else's engines seem to run OK on the Z-4000 it becomes the lowest common denominator.

Keep the z500 to operate the MTH Remote Commander.  Keep another one to be a back up/run accessories.  Sell the rest.  Use that to 'buy down' the price of the Z-4000. 

So, I recommend a Z-4000.  At the moment, you can easily get back 75% of what you paid for it, even if used.  I contemplated used one, but found they often were nto much less than new even when shipping was factored into the equation.

I like you thought it was alot of change.  Have been happy so far (had about 2 months).

I suggest you go to an MTH dealer and look at theirs (they usually have one out) and ask questions.  That's how I did it.

Good luck.

Z4000.  I held off buying one for a while, but now regret that I waited so long.  I have found it to be completely reliable in handling both DCS and Legacy, and I like the digital meters which are bright and large enough to allow me to monitor track conditions from some distance.  One of the better investments I have made in the hobby.

Use your smaller transformers for powering accessories or something like a separate trolley line.

+4 on the Z4000. With the mix  of engines you have, It's the best choice available so you can run them all. Some MTH engines will NOT work with the CW-80. The main problem is the difference in how the bell & whistle voltages are produced. The MTH engines need a DC offset that turns on & off quickly. The CW80 DC offset takes some time to turn on & off, so the MTH electronics do not recognize the offsets.

      Go with the Z4000.

Another vote for MTH Z4000.  My first one was purchased in 2006. Loved it so much, I bought another in 2009.  Very dependable. Money well spent. I'll probably get another one next year to run my 4 tinplate loops.

Bob

Z4000 AWESOME TRANSFORMER

ALEX

The Z4000 is probably the best transformer for all types of engines out there at this time. The modern ZW following closely behind

Lionel will shortly be releasing the ZW-L about York time and a newer midrange transformer this fall, but until they are released no one can say what they are going to really be like. The ZW-L will be the king of raw power when it hits the market

As for the good old Postwar ZW, unless its rebuilt and you invest in external spike and short protection I wouldn't risk any engine with electronics onboard by using it with them

Z-4000

I would be tempted to buy the MTH Z-4000 if the price was lower.

I have two Z-1000's by MTH and they work great with all brands of trains.

FYI; Lionel's new ZW is called the L-ZW and not the ZW-1000.

Not sure how true this is but have read reports of the newer Lionel ZW's handles falling out and/or cross voltage patterns to the outputs. This info is from CTT forums.

Lee F.

I am still using a pw 275 watt ZW from the 1960's on my layout as well, also have a 250 watt Z and a 190 watt KW. Using 10 amp circuit breakers attached to the output terminals(A to D) along with the transformer for newer engines. These are used with my conventional engines, post war and Williams.

Wasn't sure what the new letter code was for Lionel's new ZW, ZW-L.

Personally I prefer a transformer with everything inside, like the Z-4000 or the post war ZW.

Lee F.

Lee the new ZW-L has everything inside - no bricks.

Z-4000, no question about it. Simply the best. Dave G.

I think the new ZW-L will eat the Z-4000 for lunch.  Check it out.

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...7921250ZWLManual.pdf

I am running a Z4000 and our club has half a dozen of them. They are absolutely the best out there. I especially like the digital readouts for voltage and amperage. You might also want to consider the MRC unit, I forget the alphabet soup, which has dual throttles and analog meters. A bit less power and money. 

I wouldn't go anywhere near the new Lionel transformers until they have been on the market for a couple of years. If they have new-product problems, shipping a transformer in for repairs is an expensive proposition. I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars to be a Lionel beta tester. 

No, its the ZW-L  and is a 620 Watt transformer. There is going to be a smaller in between transformer released soon as well name is 1000 or similar

As for the CTT complaints you are referring to the modern ZW that had early production problems (now fixed)  Kind of hard for a product (ZW-L) that isn't out to have problems with handles falling off and having cross voltage problems

I'm buying my ZW-L from MB Klein/Model Train Stuff.  They are an authorized Lionel repair distributor so there's no sending anything back to Lionel.  I live 15 minutes from them so no shipping is involved.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there are no problems with my unit.

You won't be sorry you got the Z4000.  Make sure you get a "Z4000 Remote".  It plugs into the transformer and allows you to control both throttle handles remotely with either a DCS remote or a "Remote Commander".

Like Alex said..

Brad

I know the new ZW-L isn't out as yet but I was referring to the modern ZW that has the empty shell that you add the power bricks to, maybe it was the first run of that transformer.

Also I had a polarty issue with the CW-80 and a Williams True Blast 2 diesel at a freind's house a couple of years ago.

I had another issue with a Lionel product that the service department at Lionel refused to acknowledge. So my money is going with MTH for now.

Lee F.

Let's make sure we keep the various ZWs strait.

We have three totally different types of transformers branded ZW from Lionel so far.

They are:

The Post WW II ZW.  It was rated at 250 or 275 watts input.  The output is less.  for about 50 years it was the benchmark of large transformers.  Many are still in use today.  An overhaul by a qualified person plus external transient voltage suppressors and fast acting fuses or circuit breakers are recommend for use with modern trains. 

Before you decide to buy consider:  This transformer was never UL listed and they are now 50 to 65 years old.  Do you have any non-UL listed small appliances that old in your kitchen?  Why not?

The new ZW.  It was made in the modern era.  The controller looks like the post war ZW but houses only electronics.  The actual transformers that step down house voltage are external bricks. 

Before you decide to buy consider:  Lionel is out of new repair components for the internal electronics. Current replacement circuit boards are coming from repaired failed boards.

The ZW-L.  This is a very large and expensive transformer.  It houses all the components inside one case and is significantly larger than a post-war ZW.  The output of a ZW-L is approximately the same as two MTH Z-4000s and it is priced accordingly.  The toroidal transformer at the core of the ZW-L is an excellent device.

Before you decide to buy consider:  There is no track record yet for this transformer or for its support.

The MTH Z-4000 has taken the place of the post war ZW as the standard to which large transformers are compared.  That is with good reason as so many medium and large layouts have been powered with them and they have a very good track record. 

Most of the Z-4000s ever made remain in operation today without any need for repair at all.  When any repair is required the most common is the replacement of the trim potentiometer.  The trim pot is a standard item with applications outside model railroading so replacement part availability should be good for many, many years to come.

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Hello guys and gals........

what about the MRC 270 watt dual throttle transformer are they good ? I am thinking of buying one but not sure if its a trouble free or not ?

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany