Powering up problems!

Also forgot to add, getting good feedback beeps from Cab1L and the red light flashes on the Base and the ZW in response to my commands.

Short on the track...a car wheel off the rail? Wiring, if nothing is on the rails? Poor insulator if tubular rails?

I would disconnect the layout and connect the system to a piece of track and see if it works.

Methodical troubleshooting from there.

Have you tested your outlets fully?

Fastrack layout; I don’t think there is a short because everything runs in conventional perfectly.

I connected the system to a few pieces of track and it still had the same power up problem.  

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Might try to search the forum I am not well versed with the ZW-C but I believe there are a number of caveats with it. Including reported issues with using a Legacy base to operate it. While I don’t think anyone has reported that same issue with the Base-1L that could be what’s going on

Thanks for that!  I did some searching and it appears one of the problems with the ZW-C and Legacy is a situation where there is a shutdown similar to the HALT command- that certainly sound similar to what I'm experiencing. 

Don't know if it applies to Cab1L/ Base1L, but it sounds like something I need to address.  However, am I correct that the upgrade parts are no longer available??? 

Very frustrating.

OK tonight I am going to hook up the Cab-1L/ Base-1L to a CW80 I have to check whether the ZW-C is the problem.

I have TR 2,3,4,and 5 assigned to the ZW-C . . . do I need to assign a different TR to the CW80 in order for it to power up?

Sounds like a good plan, let us know how it works. The CW-80 is just a standard transformer once you lift the handle that's the power that goes to the track. You should be able to do the same with the ZW-C I believe if it's set to TR0 it will operate like a normal transformer but don't quote me on that I'd recommend double checking the manual.

Thanks zhubl I think you identified the problem.

Cab1L/ Base 1L worked perfectly with the CW80.  I guess my problem is with the ZW-C.  Arrrrg!

Does anyone fix these anymore?

So the bricks function fine, but the ZW C has a problem? You might be able to find a used working ZW C where the owner has used the bricks in a Legacy only setup and no longer needs the ZW C.

I suspect this is the Legacy issue.  Well it's more a ZW-C issue that Legacy exposed.  The problem would be as you described.  It's as if the "Halt" command was issued shutting down the ZW-C.  When I originally had this issue years ago There were days where I could get it to power up fine, days it would power up and randomly shut down, and then days where it would power up for a second and shut off.  Working with Jon Z and other forum folks the issue was identified and a new PROM made.  This was close to 14 or so years ago.

I would try to contact Lionel CS and see if they could burn you a new chip or perhaps go on the "Wanted to Buy" board and see if anyone has it.  Lionel currently shows it unavailable but I think it's worth a phone call.  That might take a while but I'd still try.  This is a first hearing about a Base 1L having this issue but you never know.

This is the part you need to update the ZW for Legacy use.  You can check it against the chip that is installed now.

The problem with buying another controller is it may have the same older chip in it and you'll have 2 doing the same thing.