What Modern transformers have quick-acting circuit breakers?

if your running all command, Lionels 180w bricks are about the best there is when it comes to a fast acting breaker.

I'm not familiar with them, but I presume Lionels modern ZW's have great protection as well. The earlier one actually uses  2 of the bricks for power.

The most recent ZW-L is supposed to be the end all/ be all of transformers.

I bought three (3) Z-4000s to replace my aging arsenal of MTH Z-1000s. They 1Ks trip near instantly. I have never tripped the breaker in the 4Ks. If there is a short when the train is running, the voltage will drop to about 3-5 volts and after several seconds will completely shut down.

I haven't had an issue with them. Very happy, worth the money.

Boy, I've had the opposite experience with the Z1000 bricks, those breakers are pretty slow acting.

Bill I learned the hard way. Running Modern Legacy Engines with PW ZW power. People will debate it here until the Cows come home. I was constantly blowing boards in my Engines no matter what kind of protection I added.I now use my old ZW's for light power. Do it right -ZW-C with Lionel 180W bricks or the ZW-L. Good luck Nick 

rockstars1989 posted:

Bill I learned the hard way. Running Modern Legacy Engines with PW ZW power. People will debate it here until the Cows come home. I was constantly blowing boards in my Engines no matter what kind of protection I added.I now use my old ZW's for light power. Do it right -ZW-C with Lionel 180W bricks or the ZW-L. Good luck Nick 

The common misconception here is that circuit breakers are enough to protect delicate electronics. That simply is not true. Circuit breakers watch for over current. TVS diodes protect against over voltage, particularly EMF from the various inductors present in our trains and accessories.

I for many years have used only a bank of ZW transformers with no detriment to my sensitive electronics.

I Like the ZW-L. Great fast acting breaker protection. But, yes you need the  TVS  diodes as well. My experience is the MTH electronics are a little more delicate. Especially, the TIU its self. 

I always have a remote around my neck, sort of like a life alert that quickly kills power to the rails, however with the ZW-L you can do the same thing with the power kill button on the remote.

No one will speak for it so I will.  I have the MRC dual 270 and it's breakers are fast - they are most often faster than the fast-blow fuses that I front end my TIU with.

- walt

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Boy, I've had the opposite experience with the Z1000 bricks, those breakers are pretty slow acting.

Very slow....great for non shorting over current. I use fast blow AGC 7.5 amp glass fuses out of each of my Z1000's.

The modern Post-2000 Lionel transformers have quick circuit breakers. 

Andrew

rockstars1989 posted:

Bill I learned the hard way. Running Modern Legacy Engines with PW ZW power. People will debate it here until the Cows come home. I was constantly blowing boards in my Engines no matter what kind of protection I added.I now use my old ZW's for light power. Do it right -ZW-C with Lionel 180W bricks or the ZW-L. Good luck Nick 

I've often wondered how many " board failure/magic smoke" threads were caused by using an antique transformer with modern trains.

It seems to always be the same few folks posting about "fried" boards.

Saving a few pennies by using an antique transformers is foolish when you spend several thousands on modern locomotives.

I've had 2 parallel 180w bricks try to  spot weld wheels to the track , never a board failure.

Needless to say, I sold off one brick as 2 was overkill, although, I should have kept it for my accessories. I'm stuck listening to 2 CW 80 fans howling at the moon when they are powered up

RickO posted:

rockstars1989 posted:

Bill I learned the hard way. Running Modern Legacy Engines with PW ZW power. People will debate it here until the Cows come home. I was constantly blowing boards in my Engines no matter what kind of protection I added.I now use my old ZW's for light power. Do it right -ZW-C with Lionel 180W bricks or the ZW-L. Good luck Nick 

I've often wondered how many " board failure/magic smoke" threads were caused by using an antique transformer with modern trains.

It seems to always be the same few folks posting about "fried" boards.

Saving a few pennies by using an antique transformers is foolish when you spend several thousands on modern locomotives. 

I wonder how many of those did not have the required external breakers and TVS diode protection. Why spend $1000 on a ZW-L and Legacy System components when ~$20 will get you external breakers and TVS diodes to allow one to use the classics which have many many many more years of service live to them?