A friend asked me if I knew how to tell when a Z4000 transformer was manufactured.
I don't know.
Is there a way to determine this?
Also, have any changes ever been made throughout the numerous production runs?
I purchased two about 10 years ago and they are great.
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I'm no expert, but I was told look on the bottom. I was also told you want 2003 or newer.
Look at the serial number of the Z4000. The first two digits indicate the month of manufacture and the second two digits indicate the the year of manufacture.
A serial number that begins with 0398 was made in March of 1998, this is the first run of Z4000's ever made.
Jeff and H1000, thank you very much.
H1000 posted:Look at the serial number of the Z4000. The first two digits indicate the month of manufacture and the second two digits indicate the the year of manufacture.
A serial number that begins with 0398 was mad in March of 1998, this is the first run of Z4000's ever made.
Big help! This could be part of the pinned MTH info!
So is there a issue with the first batch of MTH Z4000's that are dated 03 of 1998? I thought the internal components were all the same regardless of the year they were manufactured? Thank you!
I purchased my Z4000 and installed it on a layout Early December 1998,thats 26 years ago ! and it’s far from a Christmas tree only transformer like we see get pulled out this time of the year for a few weeks of use.
Mine has been used 2 to 10 hours a week all year for the last 26 years. If I go downstairs and it goes poof tomorrow it doesn’t owe me a thing !
I do have a new in box ZWL to automatically take its place.
@John of O posted:So is there a issue with the first batch of MTH Z4000's that are dated 03 of 1998? I thought the internal components were all the same regardless of the year they were manufactured? Thank you!
Some 0398’s have a voltage leakage problem (displays around 2 volts or more when throttles are off), but doesn’t affect operation. It can be corrected by a competent ASC, if desired. The 0398 transformers use a unique power and control boards, which are still available from MTH. The second run started in 1198.
@Jon G posted:Some 0398’s have a voltage leakage problem (displays around 2 volts or more when throttles are off), but doesn’t affect operation. It can be corrected by a competent ASC, if desired.
My Dads (0398) Z4000 has this problem. We added an 18v light bub on the terminal block inputs under the table which drops the voltage to zero.
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