Z4000 Capabilities

Personally, I think it would be cleaner to add another transformer and keep the loops separate, or if you have command control only just use a brick. (For bricks, I really like the Lionel PH-180's, lots of power and excellent breakers, and you can get them new for $80-$90 street price.)  If you have any MTH engines, some don't play well with the CW80 and I don't think it is on MTH's recommended list. 

 

As for the Legacy/TMCC and DCS, I would think you would be able to hook up the new loop just like you have your other loops and be good to go. I probably forgot something, if so I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct any omissions or errors.

Rtr12, you are correct the Lionel CW-80 doesn't work well with MTH Locomotives and is not on MTH Recommended List. If it was me I would go with the Z-1000. I have 2 of them and MTH, Lionel,  & K-Line all run fine on them.

Power is not consumed by the track but by the trains on them.

Watch the current reading on your Z-4000 while running your longest trains with lighted cars. Go with the channel having the lowest peak reading.

 

If it reads less than 5 Amps, you can run another train just like it on the new loop tied in to that channel of the Z-4000.

If it reads more than 5 Amps, you can possibly still run another train on the new loop, just run the train for the new loop on the existing loop (by itself) and see if how many Amps it pulls.

 

Add the amps for both trains together. If it's way less than 10 you are fine, If it is close to 10 you might occasionally pop a breaker.

 

If the total will exceed 10, THEN you need a new Brick.

There's nothing wrong with a Z, except like all those ancient transformers, use an external fuse or breaker and make sure the power cord is sound--no breaks in insulation.  It puts out a clean sine wave, which is best. 

 

Unless I needed it for accessories, I would consider using one of the accessory knobs for the 3rd loop.  Use another TIU channel.  As I recall, the Z was 250 watts, and that will run three trains with no problem.

 

You don't mention if you also run conventional, which adds some factors to consider.

Well, it was 250 watts input power, but you'd be very lucky to get a true 200 watts output power from that transformer.  Those old transformers were not rated by output power as most are today.

 

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As I've posted before, Lionel literature from the late 1940s said do not operate continuously over 75% (or 70%) of rating for any continuous period.  I used to operate a 1941 Type R 100-watt for 2 trains on 2 loops, 4 022 switches, and a #97 coal elevator.That literature also said the big power hog of the day, the 2-Pulmor-motored ATSF diesel, was 55 watts.  Big steamers 40 watts.  Todays can-motored locos pull much less.  My dual-motored freights run less than 2 amps, less than 35 watts

 

200 watts should operate 3 trains

As long as they're not passenger trains with incandescent lighting!

 

We had our 180W bricks tripping on the modular club layout with two passenger trains on one power district.