SJC, on that Z1000 that you say is leaking voltage when turned down all the way, try pulling the control handle off and see if the stem it mounts on is turned all the way off, then put your control handle back on pointing to the word off.
Z1000 for me using dcs. A small hand 110 wall remote turns on the tiu. DCS remote>eng all>startup(14 powered 5 unpowered but with lights).From there i run 2 out of 3 mu's at once(4 and 5 engine each)pulling 27 cars and 39 cars respectively. I have great respect for the z1000 brick. BTW the tiu is powered aux in w/ a Z500 brick.
An MTH Z1000 is great for me but while I want to answer Optimus, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Grimlock, Jetfire, Soundwave, Starscream, Devestator and Megatron I do have to claim the trains. The classic Triple changer , everyone's favorite purple SteamEngine/space shuttle/robot Astrotrain.
As great as he is giving him a good run for his money is the combiner Railspike. He is made of three Japanese High speed train control cabs.
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The Lionel LW transformer is a best buy at 125 watts ourput. It has lighted dial and pilot light that varies with voltage, great to indicate voltage and for night running. It will run two trains. You can get one about $50 on ebay and less at a train show. It is a better transformer than the newer 80 watt jobs for more money.
Three or four operators will get very cramped around a ZW. LWs will work better to run three train loops with three LWs and three operators as I often do.
My LWs run only trains and will run two trains per loop with relayed and blocked loops. Lights, switches etc. use 12 -14 vac fixed voltage transformers.
Charlie
Whats a LW?
Dave Zucal posted:SJC, on that Z1000 that you say is leaking voltage when turned down all the way, try pulling the control handle off and see if the stem it mounts on is turned all the way off, then put your control handle back on pointing to the word off.
Thanks for the tip but I took the easy way out and exchanged it at my LHS.
I do have one, for accessories, that reads 0 volt output at off put move it just a hair and it begins putting out voltage. No real issue but I guess I'm just used to my older ones where the voltage doesn't start until the arrow on the dial reaches the increment lines.
Chris, very cool.
George S posted:If we are going to start this again, then I am going to say, Bridgewerks Magnum 4000.
And before someone says 'in 3-rail', you can actually run prewar engines on DC power. This transformer has 40 amps of power!
And I believe - some post war!
For practical reasons, the MRC Pure Power Dual (as was mentioned -"best bang for your buck" no doubt). But for sentimental reasons, my little 1033. It was the first O gauge transformer my dad got me when I was a kid. Love the metal base and thick, bakelite plastic housing. It just screams "Post War!"
An old rebuilt ZW because it says "toy trains" "1950s" and "Lionel" all over it 
. Given the choice, I'd purchase a ZW-L but I just cannot find a rational excuse at present.
I run a Lionel ZW-C / Four Lionel Bricks / Why - Runs all the new stuff and old stuff, 180 Watts for each main line. See the wiring diagram below.
Gary - This is what works on my layout.
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Z-4000 - have two, one of which I purchased in 1998 and it is still going strong! Also have two Z-1000's and they are dependable performers.
Texas Pete posted:Lionel LW. Because it looks so dam cool!
Pete
The LW was my first so a sentimental favorite. Basically any one that gets the trains moving!!!!
I have a Z-4000 which i like for good circuit breaker protection, a ZW on the layout and a ZW on the workbench. Plus a bundle of "Wall worts" for accessories and lighting.
I use multiple Meanwell SP-320-24's on my command control only layout. Pick them up on the 'bay for like $40 each.
sncf231e posted:Z4000 for AC, LGB Jumbo for DC.
You garden layout is fantastic.
Wow, there are sure a lot of diversified hobbiest and looks like every one Connects Differently. I use the Lionel 180 Watt Bricks, 2 hooked up to TPC400"s and use Lionels Legacy System to run trains...This works well. I use the newer and older ZW's for lights and accessories......Yes the good ole ZW, can't get away from that wonderful transformer of YesterYear!!!!
Personally, I like the ZW-L the best. It, in command mode and with the Legacy system, can run almost any 3-rail locomotive ever made (with the exception of some PS-1 locomotives due to the wave-form issue), and once turned on, doesn't need to be touched again until it is time to turn it off - being able to remotely reset the breakers is a great feature!
I've used Postwar ZW's, Z4k's, Z1k's and CW-80's, and with the exception of the CW-80's, they are all good transformers (the CW-80's are OK for accessories, but I wouldn't use them for anything beyond a small loop of track). The MTH Z-1000 is probably my favorite small transformer.
Andy
I am amazed at the lack of mention of postwar American Flyer transformers, specifically the 19B. It is 18Vac, 300 watts and has a volt and ammeter. It has a single throttle (reference Lionel LW features above). There is also the 30B with 2 throttles.
Lou N
willygee posted:Whats a LW?
That isn't white paint, it's a glowing dial. This pic. is taken with the lights on, in the dark its even more impressive. Small and 125w, an attractive little bugger . 
You can run many trains on DC volts, but a whistle tender will toot non-stop because it is activated by DC. Some modern locos may need AC because they might split the wave into DC+ and DC- and use them in separate operations. Normally on AC, whistles need an "offset" AC wave where, when the whistle button is pressed, the positive wave is made slightly stronger than the negative wave effectively seen as dc by the relay or relay board. The even pos. & neg. waves of AC are ignored by the relays.
I can't think of a good reason one would "die" from trying.
A DC motor should not be tried on AC unless you like stinky smoke and dead engines
.
I will have to give another nod to the 1033. I don't know why I like them so much. It's not nostalgia, as I wasn't born until after the postwar era ended. I do know I like the high and low variable outputs, as I use one for my Marx layout. (I think it and a lockon are the only two Lionel items on that table) I typically bring another one with a circle of Fastrack with me to York, so I can play with my "new" treasures in the hotel room each night. A few years ago, I got "yelled at" at the Marx show and tell for using one to power up an M10005 I was showing. I hope it was all in fun...
J White
Silver Lake posted:An MTH Z1000 is great for me but while I want to answer Optimus, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Grimlock, Jetfire, Soundwave, Starscream, Devestator and Megatron I do have to claim the trains. The classic Triple changer , everyone's favorite purple SteamEngine/space shuttle/robot Astrotrain.
As great as he is giving him a good run for his money is the combiner Railspike. He is made of three Japanese High speed train control cabs.
Best answer! I think I still have Astrotrain (very used) in a storage box somewhere.
Robert Coniglio posted:I would like to hear more about the MTH Z4000 I am not familiar at all with it.
Bob C.
Its been around since the early 2000's......you would have to been living in a cave not to know about it.....
Post war Lionel ZW, of course, with fused connections.
Good morning,, I purchased a MTH Z 4000 when MTH first released it.
I still have the transformer today and have never had a problem with it other than I need a control handle for the track 1 side of the transformer.
The handle failing was my fault during a move to a different home.
The Z4000 really made it nice when using MTH engines retrofitted with the QSI 3000 sound system.
Scrolling to features was simple compared to using the bell and horn buttons and listening to clinks and clanks.
Jim Berger posted:Robert Coniglio posted:I would like to hear more about the MTH Z4000 I am not familiar at all with it.
Bob C.
Its been around since the early 2000's......you would have to been living in a cave not to know about it.....
what a helpful answer
My favorite single train transformer is the LW.
I believe it is the most powerful single train transformer (not counting the TW because there are two transformers under the hood).
I like the styling and the lighted handle.
My favorite dual train transformer is the ZW for all the usual reasons.
naturally I know of the MTH 4000 but I have never operated one and am not familiar with what it can do.
Bob C.
Lionel CW 80s.
Robert Coniglio posted:naturally I know of the MTH 4000 but I have never operated one and am not familiar with what it can do.
Bob C.
Bob,
I use a Z4000 outside and a Lionel ZW inside.
They both deliver about the same amount of power. Differences:
The Z4000 can control 2 circuits; the ZW 4 circuits.
The Z4000 has Volt and Ampere meters.
The Z4000 has a bell button.
The Z4000 whistle and direction buttons are easier to operate (I think)
The ZW handles are easier to operate; the Z4000 handles are rather stiff.
The Z4000 has an On/Off switch.
The Z4000 makes more noise because of an internal fan.
I think the Z4000 wins.
But the ZW is Lionel
Regards
Fred
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I have two KWs (one is a spare) to run my modest Lionel layout. But as for my "favorite," that has to be my 1033. It was the transformer that came with my very first set, at Christmas 1951 (and yes, I still have the 2026 and the cars that came with it). I use it to run my Marx layout these days.
Prewar Lionel 250 watt Z.. because it goes to 24 volts.
I go for a old ZW powers my layout just fine. I think the new ZWs are a bit more powerful. Mine is a the 275 watts
Ace posted:Some of the early transformers had class.
1950's AF 8-B transformer
That version of the 8B was last cataloged in 1950. LINK
When the '51 catalog was released it had morphed to this, with a reversing button. LINK Dad got Santa to substitute this one for the No.2 that had been packaged with my first train set.
Is was gone from the 1953 catalog, replaced by the 4B (100 watts) and the 15B (110 watts). LINK
Pete
Yeah I like my ZW of old. Mine has the small medallion and the big oval medallion on the side with in put and out put and Train Master Transformer on it. Its the second one I've had and both have had plenty of power for my needs. I've got whistle and reverse on transformer and an add on bell button. Works for me. Also like American Flyer's with (dead man's ) handles and especially the ones with gauges. Would like to have add on gauges they made at one time for the ZW's.
very interesting inputs on this topic. thanks to all for posting
Bob C.
