Vintage ZW transformer

be glad that the red light isn't coming on!!!!  When there's a short the right light will come on, so be glad yours isn't on.

A, B, C, D posts are the positive (+) posts.  "U" is ground/return.  Inside the trannie ALL of the 'U' posts are connected.  What this means is that no matter which positive post you use, any of the "U" posts will work as ground.

Typically, red wire is use for positive and black for negative.

Hope that gets you at least started.

- walt

Personally, I'd have the transformer checked out by someone with experience if this isn't an expertise of yours.  These transformers often need servicing, including a new line cord, to be as safe and functional as possible.  Also, they are not suitable for use with modern electronics without adding a fast acting circuit breaker, in case that issue isn't familiar to you.  If you are only using it with postwar and earlier electronics, not a big problem.

The red light is designed to turn on if the ZW's internal Circuit breaker trips due to a electrical current overload, like a short or excessive electrical load.

I have a few of these ZWs.  Two of the most common issues are to make sure the power cord is in good condition ( no cracks in the wire insulation).

Second, if using this transformer with modern command controlled equipment consider adding much faster external circuit breakers between the ZW and the Track as well as TVS diodes.  More information can be found about these in this thread>  https://ogrforum.com/topic/air...al-mechanisms?page=1

Also the original ZW Owners Manual is attached.

Congratulations on your ZW garage sale find!   Walt gave you good info!   Before getting your ZW operational you may want to have it checked out by a service technician who services postwar Lionel equipment.  Damaged power cords are often the case with old transformers and can be easily repaired by a technician.  A technician can also determine any problems with the internal workings of the transformer too.  Fire safety is a good thing IMHO.   Enjoy your new to you ZW.

I have two old ZWs and had them both checked out by a tech before I used them on my layout.  Both needed new cords and one also needed a bit of work on the internal.

Have you done an on line search or used the OGR Forum Search Option to find ZW operator instructions and other info you requested here?

@walt rapp posted:

When there's a short the right light will come on..

Walt, that's not entirely true. The red light only comes on when the breaker trips... the factory time/current specification is 11-40 seconds with 30 amps into .1 ohm on the A-U posts.

For example, a 8-9 amp short will never trip the breaker on a properly working ZW.

I'm not electrically smart enough to know the details, all I know is that when I have a car or engine jump the track the red light comes on.  That's all that I was trying to get across.  And 'yes', i know that other things can trip it as well.

walt

@yanksali

I would like to add a few details to the solid information of the previous posters.

The red light on the transformer does come on if an electrical short circuit occurs, be it due to bad insulation either on the power cord or in the internals of the transformer. It will also come on if, when operating your trains, a derailment occurs. In that case, turn both handles of the transformer back down to zero, put that which has derailed back on the track and, when the red light goes off, continue your running session.

Also, as it relates to the internals of the ZW transformer, DO have an experienced Lionel, postwar technician go over the ZW!!!! These transformers can be as much as 70 years old. A good technician can recognize a burned core in the transformer. Also, from many years of play wear, the rollers that make contact with the transformer coil to, by moving the control handles increase and decrease speed of the train, can wear out and in many cases fall off of their holders causing the holders to drag against the transformer coil and cause coil damage.

The postwar Lionel ZW is a GREAT transformer! I own 4 of them. It is a true testament to the quality that Lionel used to put into their products! But the other side of the double-edged sword is that being possibly the highest power output of any toy train transformer, can also be dangerous. Operation of faulty postwar ZW's have been known the cause house-fires.

So, in closing this dissertation, have your transformer THOROUGHLY checked out and restored to safe operating condition if required and ENJOY RUNNING YOUR TRAINS!!!!!

Please heed the above advice concerning getting an experienced tech look at the ZW for you.

If you want a bit more info about the guts of the ZW (or maybe you have a friend with a lot of electrical experience) I have attached some ZW Tech Tips I downloaded many years ago.

Be sure to heed the warnings from @Landsteiner and @SteveH about circuit protection.  You can run modern equipment with a ZW, but a derailment can fry the expensive electronics in a heartbeat.

Before I started using the Airpax instant breakers, I had an interesting experience with with one of these ZW's.  While the power was off, some work was being done on the layout and someone else bumped a LionChief locomotive without me knowing it, resulting in it's front wheels coming into contact with the center rail.  When track power was later applied to run other trains, everything seemed fine at first.  Then we started smelling something burning and saw smoke coming out of the bumped loco.  The Locomotive causing the short was far enough away that there was just enough resistance in the track and wiring that the ZW breaker didn't trip.  Needless to say, I immediately cut the power.  When I opened the locomotive, I found insulation had literally dripped off the ground wire coming from the front truck.  Luckily that's all that was wrong with it and fairly easy to replace.  I was lucky.

After that is when I started investigating Instant breakers.  Now that I use them and TVS diodes, I haven't had any more issues with derailments causing damage.