Running PS2 engine in conventional

Yes, the bell and whistle functions should work just fine operating in conventional with a ZW.

I suggest a fuse or quality circuit breaker between the PW-ZW and the track if you're running modern locomotives.

Thanks for the response. I believe he has a 10A quick blow fuse but will remind him just in case.

No bell button on a post war ZW. only whistle.

Gregg,

Maybe he has the Lionel 5906 bell button for his old ZW. I have one for mine.

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I suggest a fuse or quality circuit breaker between the PW-ZW and the track if you're running modern locomotives.

 

GRJ is correct, but incomplete.  Even when running ancient locos, an external fuse or breaker should be used, to protect the transformer & the house.

When Lionel came out with the whistle, before WWII, the #167 whistle controller converted the AC wave by having the voltage on one half-cycle higher an the other half cycle.  (This could also be accomplished by putting a carbon-zinc D cell in series in the line.  Polarity was not important.  Probing into my memory, which is risky, later the design concept was changed to permit a bell or a whistle to be sounded, depending on which side of the AC wave had the highest voltage.

How about a TVS across the terminals for added insurance.

I use a QSI Powerguard for spike and surge protection and my lone PS2 loco runs like a dream with my old ZW.  I acquired it to cut it up and make a Reading I-10sa but I enjoy running it so much I can't bring myself to disassemble it.  I do need a bell button to access all the PS2 features in conventional, though.

TVS is also a very good idea Forest.

Ken;

Let him know other PS-2 functions are available as combos of Bell and whistle button presses.

Timing is picky - 1/2 second press, 1/2 second off before next press.

His manual should give him the sequence for the different functions.

One most used: Open the rear coupler, complete with sound.

I will be seeing him on Saturday and pass on all this helpful information.