Power advice needed!

A ZW only has one plug. It is all the same phase and U is common to all handles.

As far as I know, phase only comes into play when, a) you have multiple house circuits which have the potential to be on separate phases, or b) more likely, multiple transformers with non polarized plugs.

I agree with Elliot not a phase problem.

Sounds like you are using a pw ZW?? Have you got multiple railpower connections spaced around your power districts/ovals? Are you using large enough gauge wire for the length of wire run from transformer to track connections? 

If it is indeed a pw ZW, keep in mind that the net output is less than 200 watts or even less when efficiency drops with heat. The 275 watt rating is input on the primary side not output. Point, you may be running a load that is exceeding the output and have a slow or faulty breaker that is not responding. You need to provide much more info: For example how many engines,how many motors how many lighted railcars,etc?

Your question regarding wiring the other side of the ZW:

You can wire a Hot[center rail] wire run to a separate power district or oval or mainline from all four binding posts/throttle:s A,B,C and D. As noted above, the "U" posts are connected to one another and are the Common for all throttles. However, all four Hot post connections only give you more controls[throttles] not more power. The ZW's output is the same and simply spread, or allocated, over the four instead of the "one side' you are now using.

OK Mr Dewey.Got it. I have #16 wire ran to the tracks about every 8 ft.All wires come back to a terminal block.I run 4 engines usually. One passenger train 6 cars lit and a couple of lit cabooses.Locos have 2 motors in each.I am useing fast track.The continuity is horrible.Yes PW ZW it heats up pretty good.

You need to use heavier gauge wire! How big is the layout?

Gunny

Gunny...it is 35 ft by 28 ft 2 levels Thanks

No doubt in my mind you need heavier feeder wires and another transformer for two loops. Your power drop is too great with only #16 wire, Try running only one train and see if it improves operation.

Gunny

Sounds good.

All done it works great thanks guys.Nick

16G drops are just fine as long as they are around 6". How long are the runs of wire going from the track to the terminal blocks? You coulda just added another ZW and it woulda been fine w/o rewiring. 1 PW ZW is not nearly enough power for that size layout with multiple trains.

6in??Drops are 8 ft long

I'm pretty sure he meant 6 feet.

No, I meant 6" drops (feeder). You can use an 18g or 16g wire as a feeder (drop) as long as they are short, like 6" or less. Most people connect a smaller feeder, then run a 14g or heavier wire underneath the layout that connects to the feeders.

These are 16g feeders that are about 4" long. I drill holes through the layout under the track and push these through. Then I run 14g wire from the feeders to the terminal block.

Even at 8' long, 16g wire was sufficient, you just needed more power for a layout of that size considering the fact that you were using only 1 PW ZW.

Many people argue that suitcase connectors are unreliable, but myself, as well as many others, have used them with no problem for years. I connect the feeder to the long wire run with a suitcase connector, then a spade connector on the end that connects to the teriminal block. Works just fine and still gives a perfect 10 signal with the MTH DCS system.

I see what you mean now.I have added a second pw zw and have all kinds of power now.Thanks Nick