I was thinking about buying one but with all the problems and the lack of parts should I stay away from this unit? How much should I pay for one? I have found a few of these but they are asking $400.00 and up. I think that's way to high. I do like the looks of them though. Thanks in advance for all replies.
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It's not worth $400. I got one for $225 with 4 PH180's! That is not typical, and I think I was in the right place at the right time. Don't waste money getting one with PH135's, that won't give you enough power. eBay is not the best place to buy these.
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
What do you plan to use it for?
George
George S posted:It's not worth $400. I got one for $225 with 4 PH180's! That is not typical, and I think I was in the right place at the right time. Don't waste money getting one with PH135's, that won't give you enough power. eBay is not the best place to buy these.
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
What do you plan to use it for?
George
George, I will be using Legacy and DCS. Right now i'm just looking into options to power my future layout. Thanks for the reply.
If it is all command, I would just use the PH180 bricks. You can connect those through the DCS TIU. If you need to control track power for occasional conventional running, you can do that with a DCS variable channel. You don't need the ZW controller.
George
George S posted:If it is all command, I would just use the PH180 bricks. You can connect those through the DCS TIU. If you need to control track power for occasional conventional running, you can do that with a DCS variable channel. You don't need the ZW controller.
George
I think that is the way I will go. Bricks are cheap and easy to find.
There is a guy on here named Leapin Larry I think he may have a ZW C/180 W set for sale He mentioned it in a post a while ago He is a A#1 fellow.I have one and love it. Nick
I have two of These Transformers that run Legacy and DCS with no issues on 700 feet of track.
Mikey
rockstars1989 posted:There is a guy on here named Leapin Larry I think he may have a ZW C/180 W set for sale He mentioned it in a post a while ago He is a A#1 fellow.I have one and love it. Nick
I sent Larry a message about this a couple weeks ago. It's sold.
George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
DGJONES posted:George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
Don, I have read on this forum some of these units don't play well with Legacy. Something about a updated chip is needed to fix the problem but this chip is no longer available.
There is another recent thread on these going around that may have the information you are looking for...
feet posted:DGJONES posted:George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
Don, I have read on this forum some of these units don't play well with Legacy. Something about a updated chip is needed to fix the problem but this chip is no longer available.
The E Prom is not available from Lionel but there are other sources where it can be found.
I used to use 4 of those ZW's with 180W PH's with Legacy & DCS & had no problems at all. Tied all the commons together.
rockstars1989 posted:feet posted:DGJONES posted:George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
Don, I have read on this forum some of these units don't play well with Legacy. Something about a updated chip is needed to fix the problem but this chip is no longer available.
The E Prom is not available from Lionel but there are other sources where it can be found.
Where can you get the E Prom? How do you program it or is it already programed ? Reason I am asking is even though I probably won't buy a ZW-C is that if somebody needs parts I can help them.
Seems to me if running command the PH180 bricks are the simplest and most reliable solution. I run mine via the PW ZW but I leaning to the simplicity of the bricks moving forward.
TexasSP posted:Seems to me if running command the PH180 bricks are the simplest and most reliable solution. I run mine via the PW ZW but I leaning to the simplicity of the bricks moving forward.
True but I want to be able to run some post war & prewar once in a while.
Feet, I say go ahead and get one if you can get it for less than $300. I'm in the market for one too. I'm setting that $300 limit because if that head unit breaks, it's a brick. However, if it comes with a couple PH180's, they're worth about $100 each. So essentially, you're rolling the dice on that head unit for $100 or less.
feet posted:TexasSP posted:Seems to me if running command the PH180 bricks are the simplest and most reliable solution. I run mine via the PW ZW but I leaning to the simplicity of the bricks moving forward.
True but I want to be able to run some post war & prewar once in a while.
Don't know about Legacy, because I don;t have it, but this can be done with a PH180 through the DCS TIU and the handheld remote or WiFi.
I have run locos this way through the variable channel. Much nicer than a hand throttle in my experience.
feet posted:rockstars1989 posted:feet posted:DGJONES posted:George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
Don, I have read on this forum some of these units don't play well with Legacy. Something about a updated chip is needed to fix the problem but this chip is no longer available.
The E Prom is not available from Lionel but there are other sources where it can be found.
Where can you get the E Prom? How do you program it or is it already programed ? Reason I am asking is even though I probably won't buy a ZW-C is that if somebody needs parts I can help them.
Try S&W Parts and supply. Lionel referred me to them. I don't know about the programing. They are out of New York
rockstars1989 posted:feet posted:rockstars1989 posted:feet posted:DGJONES posted:George S posted:
The biggest issue seems to be around using it with Legacy. I don't think I would buy one if that was what you were planning.
George
This is the first I have heard of having trouble using the ZW-C with Legacy. I use mine with Legacy controller and have never had an issue.
What issues are you referring to?
Don
Don, I have read on this forum some of these units don't play well with Legacy. Something about a updated chip is needed to fix the problem but this chip is no longer available.
The E Prom is not available from Lionel but there are other sources where it can be found.
Where can you get the E Prom? How do you program it or is it already programed ? Reason I am asking is even though I probably won't buy a ZW-C is that if somebody needs parts I can help them.
Try S&W Parts and supply. Lionel referred me to them. I don't know about the programing. They are out of New York
Went to S&W website. They are out of the Proms. Surely somebody has or can repair these units. The main reason I wanted one was the power out put they are capable of.
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