WHICH TRANSFORMER(s) ARE YOU USING?

I use an MTH Z4000 for the trains, and Z1000 for the accessories.  2 issues I have had were the 14V accessory tap on the Z1000 was out of phase with the main 18V connection.  I also do not like having to zero the Z4000 throttles before turning the transformer on - a pain when using DCS.  I'd prefer using the Lionel 180W  bricks with my TIU if I could find any.

 

Tom

Paul,

   We now have a nice size power station consisting of 2 new Z4K's, 3 good old ZW's, 2 fully rebuilt KW's, and 1 original Lionel 2 handle smaller 230W Transformer, numbers unknown right now, for our Bump & Go Street Cars and Fireman Car.  Now that we run low voltage FasTrack Command Control Switches, we have lots of power for running engines and operating/lighted rolling stock.  I wanted to purchase a ZW-L but could not justify in my own mind the expenditure, might add another original ZW however when I see one that the price is right on.

Scotty we can always use more power at reasonable cost!

PCRR/Dave

 

Sheesh. I thought I had a lot! WOW!!!!!!!!

Oh I forgot one  A ZW-L

Five Lionel ZW's: one modern; four from the 50's. They run ten trains on ten separate loops, plus one trolley.

A Z4000 for the two outer loops, need it to play with the options on the MTH engines.

Inner two loops are wired to our R-O-W.

A 1940 Lionel R transformer for the South Shore dog bone.

John

Wow! A lot of R-O-Ws out there. 

One Z, one KW, an L for my Standard gauge plus a couple extras in case one dies.

I am using two Z4000's. One for the upper mainlines and one for the lower mainlines..........Paul

Two Lionel 1033s and two RWs do the trick on my layout.  One of the RWs is for lights.

Well, since my PW ZW decided to try and light me on fire, I switched it out with a CW80. I also use a little blue Lionel brick for my test track.

At home: 1 MTH Z4000

At club: 3 MTH Z4000, 2 Lionel 180W Bricks, and a 4x12VAC/10-Amp power supply for signals/accessories.

NONE

 

Battery Power Only Since May.  There's not a single wire hooked to the layout now.

Two PH 135's paralleled, Lower left. Accessory transformer, upper left, is wired for 12 volts, can also be wired for 24 volts.  Total power capacity is .75 KW, (750 watts) More power, Tim.  

 

A pair of 180 watt Power Houses linked to a pair of TPC 400s for railpower.Couple of AC accessory units, 12 volt DC wall warts for Tortoise Switch motors and DC Powerpak as standby.

 

This is what I use:

 

 

A ZW-C with 4 135w bricks attached. Has worked great since 1999.

 

A CW-80 for quick floor layouts and test bench.

 

Also have a 275w ZW that has become pretty much a shelf queen.

 

MTH Z-4000 for the last 15 or so years (first release purchase back in the day,  I don't remember the year )

 

Mark

3 postwar ZWs with Legacy.

 

 

 

 

Postwar Lionel 275 watt ZW for postwar trains and some accessories.

MTH Z-1000 for modern trains

MTH Z-750 for subways only

MRC 027 for more accessories

I have two KWs, but only use one at a time.

 

MTH Z4000 with hand held remote, for two loops,  and an MRC Pure Power Dual for one loop.  One side of the MRC is unused. Layout is 100% conventional. 

3- MTH Z4000 (2- for tracks, 1-for accessories)

1-MRC 270 Watt Transformer (building lights)

2- MTH 750 Transformers (Atlas O Switches)

........rogerw.

For my 4.3' x 10' twin-loop layout, I use 2-135w PowerHouses, plus two K-Line 125va transformers for constant switch voltage, accessories, and lights.  Also have available an old 1190 and small Lionel DC-only powerpack if I need specific control for some reason.

Postwar ZWs.....baby!!!

 

 

One Z4000 and two ZWs.

Two Lionel ZW-L's for the main track and one KW for the Subway Mall train.

 

For the accessories, lighting, etc., I have 19 power supplies and power packs ranging from 6VDC to 18VDC, and several AC as well. These are connected to remote control outlets located around the layout to minimize the length of the wire runs.

 

Alex

W, 1033, LW, plus four of these.

 

 

 

 

 

One has been pressed into service in my resistance soldering device.

 

cue the Tim the Toolman grunt.

 

Pete

the club has 2, 180 watt bricks and a Z4000 for each of the 4 lines.

 

and about 7 malibu transformers to handle all the accessories.

Track is powered 2 ways: DCS thru a TIU and 4 180 watt bricks and conventional with 3 mth controllers with 1- 750 each and 1 mth controller with 2- 750's (Helix). All of my lights, buildings, signals, carnival rides.... are controlled with separate power supplies on a main board controlled with toggle switches and automatic relays.

last time the layout was up I used a 250W version of the PW ZW which ran 2-3 trains on separate loops and a 1032 (75W) and 1033 (90W) for accessories, lights, switches, etc

I use a PW KW for the track and two PW LW's for my accessories and lighting. 

I feel like "odd man out", I don't particularly like ZWs.  Got rid of mine.

Jim

That's OK, that's what this hobby is all about.

Run what you like and buy what you like.

Happy Training

Popi

MTH Z-4000 and a Lionel 250 watt ZW.  ZW powers my Mountain Division single track line, siding,  and the elevated trolly line that runs over top of Patsburg. I use inline fuses on with the ZW transformer for protection against power spikes. No blown fuses so far.

 

The ZW also powers some accessories and lights.  

 

The MTH Z - 4000 powers the lower level main line loops and all sidings.  Eventually will power all track turnouts as well. 

ZW-L and two ZW 275 watts.

 

Neal Jeter

I use 5 PW ZW's for trains and accessories and 2 more ZW's for lighting.  Everything runs fine.  Run mostly conventional and once in a while TMCC.

 

Paul Edgar

On my PW-style layout I use -- of course -- a PW ZW. 

One Lionel PH-180 per TIU channel and one TIU channel per loop of track. Layout is command control only. Z-500 powers the TIU and only a Z-1000 for accessory power right now.

Does everyone have 1 common that is used with all transformers?