ZW-C Pot , output voltage

As for the reinstall procedure, I thought it was turn them all the way off like you did. You must be doing something right, I can't seem to get the voltage to 18, mine max out at 16v.

The voltage out of the ZW-C will be about 1 volt lower than the bricks provide on the inputs in the back.  The voltage control circuitry soaks up a bit of the voltage. 

Is there any way to get an 18 volt output? I received the Red Lightning NYC F3s for Christmas. They fly using our Postwar ZW at 18v but that 16v out of the ZW-C really seems to effect the performance. I would prefer to use the ZW-C due to the electronics in the engine.

You should be getting about one volt less than the brick as a rule when you introduce electronic controls.  If your house voltage is low, then the brick will have less output.  What is the voltage out of the brick on the input of the ZW-C?

 

Voltage at the brick is 18.6v. At the track 16.5v. per a DVOM. It has a Lionel amp/volt meter attached that reads 16v. 

I suspect it may need a calibration.

 

All four channels can be calibrated by moving each handle to zero, and holding the program button in while the power is turned on. The red light will flash five times to indicate calibration is complete. This must be done with the Command Base disconnected.

 

Also, have you tried a different channel to see if you get the same low voltage?

I actually did try a calibration last night. I just did again to make sure. I re-watched the ZW-C instructional video from Mike Regan last evening to see if I was performing the calibration correctly. The readings are odd in that I can get a 17v reading at the Lionel meter and 17.8v at the DVOM, so with what you originally said about the 1 volt lost that is normal. That will only happen in conventional. When I operate the ZW-C with the Cab-2 there is 16.7v at the DVOM. Seems strange that I still have that added loss in command.  I did make sure the handles were fully off with base disconnected during the calibration (the red light flashed 5 times) and fully on while commanding the track power again with the base reconnected. Your help is very much appreciated!

The answer to the question about the channels, it is on all of them. I decided to switch to an older ZW-C. The gears had jumped on this one. I now have the new plates inside among a couple other things to keep the gears in place. Switched over the bricks and wires, performed a recalibration. I even  removed the top and verified the pot was moving to it's full on position. I think it may be the nature of the beast. Again, in conventional I get 17.5v and in command it will only give a max 16.7v. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.

I think it may be the way it works.  I confess, I didn't try it in command, just conventional.  In truth, my ZW-C is on the shelf, I just use the 180W bricks through the MTH TIU, so I have that capability without the controller.

 

Those readings sound right from when I measured the output voltage on mine. I have since retired it and have gone to a ZW-L.

Thats how our ZW-C works. We lose about a volt through electronics. Check that on the volt meter and the analog volt meters that are wired to the layout. I inquired about it when we originally wired the layout and everyone told me it was normal. It doesn't seem to effect the way any of the engines operate.

Perhaps the voltages were set in command mode to lower than maximum. Try setting the voltages with the cab2 and base connected using the cab2 to set the voltage.

 

I get 18.25VAC consistently at the rails with mine using two 180 bricks for 4 channels with a load on the track (ie., lighted car, LionChief Engine, Legacy engine) 

The calibration measures for any resistance in the off position and sets the output to aka

zero volts/off. I tried another method of physical gear alignment to even the outputs.

I physically set all handles to max. I then loosened the pot brackets. Moved each gear to the point of max output. Reseated the pot brackets and turned handles to the off position and perform a calibration. Checked with handles at max-all even.

 

Verified with a engine locally and not on layout. Maybe, someone else can try this out and verify my results. Do it at your own risk....