the engine runs much better on a kw than a z1000. its 080 proto 1 runs smoother sounds are not skiping like it does on the z1000 chuff skips alot
chris
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The Z1000, though fairly well filtered, is still a phase-limiting, electronic variable power supply that cuts part of the sine wave to produced reduced output voltage.
The KW, is an "autotransformer" which actually varies the AC voltage output by altering the number of windings within the transformer. The full sine wave is retained. Proto-1 engines operate better with this type of output.
The Z4000 took a high-tech approach which [I believe] uses a filtered variable DC output from the main step-down transformer run through an inverter circuit to create full-wave AC power. That technique works great, but cost a lot more to implement.
Try setting your KW to zero to 14 volt mode. it may run even better.
move the U wires to 6v pin. If you connect wires to the U pin the voltage will be 6 180 degrees out of phase. Only use that for accessories not connected to track. The 14/20 pin will now be 14 v. the throttles and 14v pin will be in phase to the original setting.
matt question, how does the Lionel brick play into your explanation?
Originally Posted:
...The KW, is an "autotransformer" ...
No way the KW, or any toy transformer, will come through as an autotransformer.
The KW(and all the other traditional train transformers) are in fact dual-coil, isolation transformers.
Gentlemen,
Rob is correct as usual, however the KW is still different than the Z-1000,
which Matt was trying to point out. Matt's technology was not quite correct however. Your KW is definitely going to run your P1 engines much better than your
Z-1000, the KW matches up so much better. Sine Wave verses Chopped waved transformers.
PCRR/Dave
The answer is VERY simple. The QSI/MTH Proto-Sound systems were designed with the known power supplies of the time. In others words they were design around Lionel ZW, KW, etc. true sine wave transformer power supplies. There was no thought given to/for future power supplies with chopped/shark-fin outputs.
Originally Posted by bigdodgetrain:
matt question, how does the Lionel brick play into your explanation?
The brick is a basic step-down transformer with a circuit breaker on the secondary -- 110VAC in/18VAC out.
BTW, Rob, you're right. Picked the wrong term as the variable connections -- i.e., variable tap is on the secondary of a KW and others. Forgot that autos had no secondary.
Originally Posted by PRRronbh:
The answer is VERY simple. The QSI/MTH Proto-Sound systems were designed with the known power supplies of the time. In others words they were design around Lionel ZW, KW, etc. true sine wave transformer power supplies. There was no thought given to/for future power supplies with chopped/shark-fin outputs.
That is the answer on the question.
The ZW with just the whistle control was the "gold standard". The first control system I'm aware of that was engineered to auot-sense the power supply and adapt was the QS-2+ by QSI. Even then, the mode for chopped/sharkfin was identified by QSI as either Lionel MW/RS-1 mode, PM-1(TMCC PowerMaster) mode, or MRC 270(the corded walk-around unit) mode. I think there were about 5 modes including pure sine wave, so I'm forgetting at least one more.
I think the MTH brick is a sine wave. The chopping occurs in the voltage adjustment device.
thanks all. just wondered because I bought it a few years ago and ran it on KW and then when I switched to Z1000's it was all messed up. just did not run as good, even the power delivery is less smooth. I am always on the throttle with it. the KW, you turn it onto the setting voltage and its consistent. oh well.
