ZW-L interesting observations!

One thing I left out and is probably self explanatory but... If you plan to use the ZW-L with DCS and a TMCC base only, make sure your TIU is powered via the A/C adapter NOT via the ZW-L to fixed 1. You won't be able to talk to the transformer if the TIU dissent have power.

Thanks for posting all of this information Gromet. The more I read about the ZW-L, the more inclined I am to order one. 

Thank you.  I appreciate  you taking the time for such a comprehensive review.  I am going to get one.

Gromet,

   Now that is cools stuff, no doubt about it. 

PCRR/Dave

You won't regret it Lee. It is an awesome piece. Exactly what we should be expecting from Lionel.

This is correct if you are on Legacy 1.4 or higher. 1.3 and below is 0-9 only. 1.4 & higher is 0-95 for TR assignment.

With the ZW L in command mode and a cab 2, you have

complete control over all 4 outputs including the horn, bell,

and direction as well as speed of conventionial engines.

 

 

Haven't tried that Patrick. I will test and let you know tomorrow.

1.4 is the minimum requirement for the ZW-L anyway. Although not sure what (if anything) would happen if you used 1.3 or less

We have the Greenburgh Show set up tomorrow. Our club will be doing some experimenting as well.  I will also be trying out some DCS as well (at home)over the weekend if i can get a rev L lent to me long enough, before i dive in. Someone gave me and old TIU but i aint gonna waste my time .

Good luck with the DCS test drive Patrick. I have both Legacy and DCS. If I had to choose I would keep Legacy but MTH has some nice engines and sometimes the prices of the MTH engines are hard to beat.

 

Take the GE Evolution Hybrid for example. Both Lionel and MTH made their version. I saw the Lionel version in person and thought it was really nice and cool but I just didn't think it was worth about $900.00.

 

When MTH came out with theirs I thought it was nice as well. When I saw it in person I loved it. With the inclusion of the RPO car and a price of about $465.00 I couldn't pass it up.

 

I'm not cheap and will spend when I think something is worth the price. I purchased the Lionel Legacy Northern Pacific EM-1 last week which cost me $1,100.00.

 

MTH engines and DCS are nice and work well but the features of Legacy are above and beyond. It's nice to be able to run both and have options.

I havn't taken mine out of the box yet.  Is it phenolic resin like the original?

You can set any of the 4 channels to any mode, Legacy,

Cab1, or tmcc using the info button or using the utility

computer program.

 

When you look at what this unit can do, it's really quite a bargain. It costs far less than 4 transformer bricks and 4 TPC units, plus you can use it as a traditional transformer with 4 outputs at any time that you wish. And that's all before you take into account the value of the gauges and other cool features. 

I am a little confused by this part:

 

Now for you DCS users here us where it gets interesting.
If you have your TIU connected to either a TMCC or Legacy base you can use your DCS remote to control the throttles on the ZW-L!
As long as you program the ZW-L as an engine, DCS will see those engines as throttles and you can have variable control of each individual throttle (engine). OR if you put the ZW-L into 1 channel mode you can simultaneously control all four throttles by controlling just throttle A.

 

Do you mean that the DCS remote can only control the engines in conventional mode?

.....

Dennis

Nice review Gromet! I am glad you like your new toy.

This is something I'm looking forward to. 

 

I am currently using a CC ZW and when I want to run anything conventional on any leg (A,B,C,D) the TR default is CAB1 emulation.  I find it difficult to run a veriety of engines: Postwar Pulmore, Modern Can, light (Thomas), heavy (GG1), etc. up and down elevated sections and control the speed with the red dial.

 

It's too easy to go from off (tripping the reverse) to full speed (18V).  Then again, maybe that's just me.

 

I look forward to better conventional control with the ZW-L with more speed steps.

Oh no Nicole, don't go there.  Some others have spoken and they vehimently disagree.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

  

  After seeing Patrick H's new ZW-L, this new ZW-L does so many different things that until you actually own one and really use it, it's hard to discribe all the advantages of the transformer.  In fact as Patrick H indicated some R&D work needs to be done to see just how DCS can be fully used with the ZW-L.  If you own both a Z4K and a ZW-L there is going to be lots of engineering options to consider.

PCRR/Dave

I purchased the ZW-L to replace my Z4K. Will probably be putting the Z4K up on the FOR SALE board in the next few days.

I'm thinking about doing the same thing Gromet.

To Pat H. I set my ZW L as Eng 90 so the A,B,C,D outputs are

Eng 90, 91, 92,93. By calling the ZW L an engine you can

call an engine a Legacy, Cab 1, or TMCC and get 32,100,200

speed steps. By calling the ZW L TR you have lsomething

very different.

 

Gromet,

 

Are you going to answer my question?

.....

Dennis

Dennis, In ever said that the DCS remote can only run trains in conventional mode. As long as your DCS system is hooked to a TMCC or legacy base it can run your TMCC/Legacy engines just like it could if you were using a Z-4000. It's when you have the transformer in command mode that you can set the throttles as engines via legacy/TMCC and then control those throttles directly/variable via the DCS remote.

By building a lashup of the 4 outputs of the ZW L and

using Train Link, with the press of one button to select

output A,B,C,or D, the Cab 2 can control voltage/speed,

horn, bell, direction of the selected conventional track connected

to the ZW L.

 

You are still confusing me. With the ZWL I wouldn't want to control the "throttles".  To me controlling the throttles of the ZWL is controlling voltage to the track, i.e.that would be conventional operation.  I want to have the normal 18 volts constant to the track and control the "engines" in normal command mode as I do now.

.....

Dennis

Dennis, If you are running ONLY "Command" engines under TMCC or Legacy than you would leave the ZW-L in conventional mode, physically crank the handles all the way up and fire up your remote and run your trains. This is mode an option for people who run both command and conventional trains. It gives them the ability to control the track voltage via the remote (giving them the ability to move around the layout and still have control). The fact that the ZW-L is is connected to the command base means that in either mode if you are running conventional engines and have a command engine sitting on a powered siding or turntable spur that it won't go flying because it won't move if it sees a command base signal present while adjusting those throttle voltages for conventional engines.

Another reason for wanting to have voltage control on the remote might be if you have an operating accessory that needs less or more voltage than standard operating voltage. For example. Handle B on my ZW-L turns on power to my accessories. I usually keep this dialed in to about 14volts. My original 30 year old Lionel Icing station will chuck ice cubes across the room at 14volts. So before I "load" I willI dial it down to about 11-12 volts. With the ZW-L in command mode I would not have to be planted at my control panel to achieve this. Than my icing station being connected to an SC-2 accessory controller I can actually enjoy the action right there near the accessory instead of on the other side of the room at my control panel.

Thanks Gromet, I understand now.  You confirmed that I don't need to purchase a ZWL.  Although it sounds like an outstanding transformer with a lot of new features, for my purposes, I will still do fine with my two postwar ZWs.

.....

Dennis

Sounds like a great time to be in the market for a used Z4000

Is the CAB-1L remote available now, too?

Not yet.  Another thread rumors it (perhaps based on shipping schedule) to be middle of this year.

 

As to another interesting observation, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the connector hidden on the back under the protective plug? (looking at the back, it's to the left near the bottom)  I find myself wondering if that is for future expansion possibilities, or just for service diagnostics.

 

-Dave