PW ZW???

The ZW circuit breakers are there to protect the transformer, not your layout.  If you want to protect your layout and engines, you need fast acting circuit breakers or fuses as you have.

 

The ZW is fine for the layout with the additional protection of the fuses you mention.

So the fast blow fuses with the tiu will be fine? I Plan on using the mth banna jack cable with the bannana clips cut off on one end to go from the zw to tiu but have a fuse inbetween. And then use the other half to the track. Will that gauge of wire be fine for 10 amp fast blow fuses in an inline fuse holder?

Anything from #16 or larger will be fine with 10A fuses.  I'm not sure I know what the MTH Banana Jack cable is, but if it's intended for the TIU, one would think it's sufficiently large wire.  The fuses are excellent protection, of course they do require replacement if you overload them.   That's why many folks go for fast acting circuit breakers instead of fuses.

The old ZW's are perfect.  I have 2 plus a Z4000 on my layout.  I recommend circuit breakers rather than fuses, as they're cheaper in the long run.  A good source is an on-line boating supply house like Defender Marine Supplies.

 

Note that if the internal circuit breaker were working properly, the red light would come on also.

 

I use 14-gauge wire between TIU & transformers, as I run several locos at once.

I have been powering my TIU with 2 PW ZW's for about 3 years now. They are properly phased and I have 10 amp fast blow fuses between the transformers and the TIU located on the positive wires. I prefer fuses because they are quicker than circuit breakers. Having said that, I recently purchased a new Z4000 to replace them due to concerns over voltage spikes being given off by the ZW's. I have had several board failures in a short period of time so I decided to quit tempting fate. Fuses won't protect your engines from spikes coming from the transformer. I have had several people including a tech tell me that this is most likely the reason for the failures.The Z4000 produces a pure sine wave and puts out clean power. My ZW's will be running accessories and lights from now on. Andy J.

I suggest adding an inexpensive Transient Voltage Supressor [TVS] to each railpower throttle output on your pw ZW[or any transformer]. Circuit Breakers/Fuses protect the transformer against overcurrent surge whereas TVS protects the wire runs and engine circuit board components against Voltage Spikes. A voltage spike will not trip a breaker as does overcurrent.

Supposedly the DCS TIU has built-in TVS.

 

Poor photo shows a TVS that was simply connected across the "U" and "A" terminals of one of my pw ZWs when used for railpower.

Quite frankly, I think those people had no idea what they were talking about.  The PW-ZW is a pure sine wave output that's less likely to have spikes than an electronic transformer.  Also, the recommendation by Dewey is a good one, the addition of a TVS on any transformer output is a good idea.

 

Barry says the Rev. L TIU has TVS protection on the outputs, don't know about the inputs.  I should open it up and see what's in there.

Supposedly the DCS TIU has built-in TVS.

 

 the Rev. L TIU has TVS protection on the outputs

You're both correct, one for  each channel.

So no TVS on the inputs, but there is one on the outputs?

I would note that the 4 U terminals on the pw ZWs are riveted to a single bus.  The rivets often loosen and make poor contact.  Then, a TVS will be of no value unless there are TVS's on all U posts that are connected to the layout.

You can buy replacement posts that are easy to install, I think The Train Tender has them for around 75 cents.  You can replace them without doing more than taking the top cover off.  If they're loose, this would be my first step.

There are replacement posts available that bolt in, no riveting required.  They can be installed in only a couple of minutes.

That would be worth a try.  Why don't you post a source?

Try Jeff at The Train Tender (ttender.com), part # T-159R at 60 cents each.

I did days ago.

I did days ago

 

Not quite correct.  You did not state that they were not OEM, but were screw type.  Gary was specific that screw-type were available, which is why I asked him to post the source for screw type; he was also kind enough to give the part number.  Since Train Tender has many parts, it simplifies the search and minimizes the chance for error in ordering.

 

I have used the Train Tender for hard-to-find #97 parts, and recommend him.

 

Thanks for the info, Gary