ZW 6-14002

Well, there is no repair information for the ZW-C, that's the conundrum with that unit.  I pretty regularly see the ZW-C (without the transformers) for sale fairly cheap, I think I'd just go that way if you want one.

GPTOM, do you mean the ZW-C 32930?  The 14002 is the amp/volt meter that attaches to the 32930.  Either way I agree with GRJ that they aren't repairable.  I have one with the "A" control shorting out when you try to use that handle.

The B, C, & D all work okay but I took it to a Lionel Repair shop and they said it was unrepairable since the parts just weren't available.  I have 2 180 Watt bricks with it that are also now pretty much useless and the ZW-C is only going to be useful for parts (at least it has the metal pot brackets so they can be recovered).  I replaced the ZW-C with a ZW-L and that is a great transformer, although very expensive.

@lionelflyer posted:

I have 2 180 Watt bricks with it that are also now pretty much useless ...

How so?  Because of their quick overcurrent shutdown, and quality power output, these are the most sought-after PowerHouse bricks and are currently going for big money on the "E", at auctions and at shows.

You'll find many, many people who would take them off your hands in a heartbeat.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I've had the 180 Watt Powerhouse bricks on my table at both York and a local show in NJ yesterday.  I don't think I had them priced too high because no-one even looked at them to see the pricing.  On an item like this I prefer selling them in person rather than shipping and refuse to give that auction site direct access to my checking account like they demand now.

I'm stunned nobody wanted those bricks.  Just for reference, exactly what price were you looking for?

Is Lionelflyer saying no one bought them or is he saying no one looked at the price and simply bought them.

Unless my reading comprehension is way off Rod, he's saying they didn't even look at them at all.

No one even looked at them so the price I was asking (I won't post that here as I think it is against the forum rules) was immaterial.  Same thing at a local show yesterday.  However, I did sell the old ZW that was right behind the bricks so that was good.  It was rewired and had new rollers, although I didn't update the breaker (which was working) or the whistle controller (which was also working). 

Yo can always use the forum to sell them - not against the rules to post a price - rules actually require a price.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Unless my reading comprehension is way off Rod, he's saying they didn't even look at them at all.

GRJ, just to opposite. My reading comprehension is way off.🤣

@lionelflyer posted:

No one even looked at them so the price I was asking (I won't post that here as I think it is against the forum rules) was immaterial.  Same thing at a local show yesterday.  However, I did sell the old ZW that was right behind the bricks so that was good.  It was rewired and had new rollers, although I didn't update the breaker (which was working) or the whistle controller (which was also working).

Send me an email, I'm interested in the bricks.

Well, I just looked at eBay to see how well these bricks have sold in the past three months. Of the 44 listed, 40 sold, with prices ranging from $75 to $190, though most around the $105 mark. Sounds like pretty strong demand to me.

I bought most of mine in the $65-$75 range.  With the new higher prices for the replacement, you might get a bit more.

Just be careful evaluating the selling prices on Ebay.  I think some of those at the lower prices might be 135 Watt units.  I see some that are listed and some that are sold and there is no mention of which brick they are selling.

I’m not sure how you do eBay searches, but if you do them correctly you get precise results. I searched using the keywords

lionel 180 watt powerhouse

All the search results I got were 180-watt bricks.

@Jim R. posted:

I’m not sure how you do eBay searches, but if you do them correctly you get precise results. I searched using the keywords

lionel 180 watt powerhouse

All the search results I got were 180-watt bricks.

Jim,

What if @lionelflyer doesn't do searches?  I can see where he's coming from.  I don't do many searches myself.

I normally visit sellers and browse once I'm there; like spending an afternoon at my LHS -- almost.  Because of this I come upon situations, not often but occasionally, where descriptions are incomplete, or flat-out wrong.  Those would be filtered out if you did a search instead.

BTW--Your search terms are perfect if you're going to do a search.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

I normally visit sellers and browse once I'm there; like spending an afternoon at my LHS -- almost.  Because of this I come upon situations, not often but occasionally, where descriptions are incomplete, or flat-out wrong.  Those would be filtered out if you did a search instead.

If you have tons of idle time, that might work.  However, spending hours on eBay every few days just isn't practical for me.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I bought most of mine in the $65-$75 range.  With the new higher prices for the replacement, you might get a bit more.

I've paid about the same price or less - the last few 20-40 dollars for the larger one. Almost, all at train shows.

At $20-40, I'll buy all the PowerHouse 180 transformers you have.

FWIW, I was looking for a 180 watt brick at York for a friend and saw 8-10 vendors with them - all in the $100 to $175 range.   I was only able to be there on Thursday so I may have missed some as I went through the halls at a good pace.   In September I purchased one off the Buy/Sell board for $75 for my personal use.  If you're looking for one in the short term - figure $100 or so to acquire as they've risen in street price since the pandemic started.   If you can afford to wait you'll probably be able to save a few bucks at a local show or may get lucky with a seller asking significantly less.

-Greg

My layout is happy with it's four bricks, and I have a couple of spares.  I am keeping an eye out for one or two more for our club, but it's not an emergency.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you have tons of idle time, that might work.  However, spending hours on eBay every few days just isn't practical for me.

John,

I have no problem with your approach in your situation.

I don't have tons of idle time either, but I also don't have tons of spare cash for a site seriously overloaded with ridiculously priced items.

Advantage: My secret is finding things that are mislabeled, and that are at the same time not priced through the roof.  Those who stick with searches won't find my kinds of deals because they're mislabeled.

Disavantage: If you like to use search because is takes you immediately to what you're looking for, realize that there are hundred or thousands of others looking for the same thing, using search, racing to beat you to it, and ultimately bidding things up trying to beat you.  This does not happen when things are mislabeled because these items can't be found with standard search criteria, precisely because they don't fit these criteria since they're mislabeled.

My apologies for seeing things differently.  There's more than one "best" way to use eBay.  I prefer good old-fashioned leg work, just as when the world was covered with LHS's, pre-internet.  By the way, I'm sure that those who love train shows also know the value of browsing for hidden bargains, if they have the time to do so.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

My apologies for seeing things differently.

I can't see where apologies are necessary, you're 100% correct.  It's not a problem if people see things differently, think of what a boring place the world would be if that were not the case!