When I purchased my ZW-L's years back they were 685.00, but now they are 900.00! Why such a huge price jump? I need another transformer for my new standard Gauge layout, but this seems ridiculous.
Have they changed somehow?
Thanks!
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@Sean's Train Depot posted:When I purchased my ZW-L's years back they were 685.00, but now they are 900.00! Why such a huge price jump? I need another transformer for my new standard Gauge layout, but this seems ridiculous.
Have they changed somehow?
Thanks!
Well they have increased over the years but I believe there was a big uptick due to the shipping and component shortages earlier this year as well. I suspect with a little work using the forum sponsors you can get one for less. Most place I checked are "back ordered" but seem to come in less than MSRP. Yep they are expensive transformers but seem to work well with Legacy. Z4000s are still around some too. The new batch coming out also saw a significant price increase. $629 preorder from Train World.
If your standard gauge is pre war or conventional you could just use a Post War ZW. Add a TVS and fast breaker if they are DCS. You can get 3-4 professionally refurbished ZWs for the price of a ZW-L.
Pete
@Norton posted:If your standard gauge is pre war or conventional you could just use a Post War ZW. Add a TVS and fast breaker if they are DCS. You can get 3-4 professionally refurbished ZWs for the price of a ZW-L.
Pete
It will likely be mostly Mikes Modern stuff with PS 2.0 or 3.0 so I need a modern transformer, but the ZW-l has that old time look so that kind of why I was leaning towards that one. That way I can run both Old and New.
Thanks!
Nassau Hobby typically has 10-15% off sales for Labor Day, Black Friday, Memorial day etc... I would wait until one of those sales and buy the ZW-L then. Normally with that big of a purchase you get free shipping. You can typically save 100. Its one of the best deals for a big ticket item.
I have a ZW-L and its a brute. Well worth the investment. If you are on a budget, I would consider, as others suggested, a postwar ZW professionally serviced. But you then need to add the additional protection for all modern locs with electronics.
Hello Sean. Prior to the ZW-L, Lionel made modern ZWs with separate power bricks. (https://www.lionel.com/product...-supply-set-6-32930, for example). I bought two of them, both used, and have been very happy with them. You might give them a look given your desire for a retro look.
@Rider Sandman posted:Hello Sean. Prior to the ZW-L, Lionel made modern ZWs with separate power bricks. (https://www.lionel.com/product...-supply-set-6-32930, for example). I bought two of them, both used, and have been very happy with them. You might give them a look given your desire for a retro look.
Yeah I have one of those with 4 bricks too. I use it for accessories. The handles are problematic over time. And depending on the version you get, the computer chip can be problematic with random shutdown commands (mine did that and it took me forever to figure out what was happening. I had to disconnect the antenna since no new updated chips were available).
That was ok since I did not use it for TMCC commands, but I don't want another one of those.
So I just want either a ZW-L or an MTH Z-4000
Thanks!
Thanks, Sean. I never knew of those issues. I went with Legacy command not long after I bought them. I rarely use the handles, so hopefully the problems with them don’t surface.
Be careful of those ZWC's. (the ones with the separate Bricks). There are no Replacement Parts available, especially the PCB's. I purchased a ZWL, and have never looked back. They are a "GREAT" Transformer. It replaced a "PROBLOMATIC" ZWC !!!
FREDSTRAINS
@Sean's Train Depot posted:It will likely be mostly Mikes Modern stuff with PS 2.0 or 3.0 so I need a modern transformer, but the ZW-l has that old time look so that kind of why I was leaning towards that one. That way I can run both Old and New.
Thanks!
Are you running DCS or conventional? If DCS no need for throttle handles. Just get a couple PH180 bricks and call it good.
@Fredstrains posted:Be careful of those ZWC's. (the ones with the separate Bricks). There are no Replacement Parts available, especially the PCB's. I purchased a ZWL, and have never looked back. They are a "GREAT" Transformer. It replaced a "PROBLOMATIC" ZWC !!!
FREDSTRAINS
Fred,
It is indeed true that the number of parts available to fix a ZW-C is slowly dropping. I just checked lionelsupport.com and found that 28 out of the 58 parts listed in the parts list are currently listed as "Unavailable".
Almost four years ago when I checked the same list only sixteen were listed as "Unavailable". (I made a screen capture of the page, saved it on 1/21/18, and just checked it to confirm the number.)
PROBLOMATIC? Yes indeed.
But the following is even worse, and it's for the ZW-L. Only the power cord is available:
SUPER-PROBLOMATIC!
Mike
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@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:PROBLOMATIC? Yes indeed.But the following is even worse, and it's for the ZW-L. Only the power cord is available:
SUPER-PROBLOMATIC!
Mike
Well, look again. Two of those items are the blue module with obsolete software in them, so that's no loss. If for some reason you wanted those, you could simply buy a black module and cook the 1.4 software into it.
The ZW-L transformer manual is a similar issue, you can download it for free, why would you pay $10 for a few pages you can print at home! I print manuals like that in booklet mode, seven sheets of paper and a couple of staples and you have the user's manual.
In truth, there are no useful parts available for the ZW-L right now. 
I doubt too many people have worn out the power cord yet...
Sean, I was hesitant when they were $700.00 but I bought one anyway. I would still buy one even at today’s price. They are well engineered and worth the money. The circuit breakers are to me, as good as the 180 bricks and make the ZWL an extremely safe transformer for today’s electronic trains. Go for it. You’ll be glad you did.
@romiller49 posted:Sean, I was hesitant when they were $700.00 but I bought one anyway. I would still buy one even at today’s price. They are well engineered and worth the money. The circuit breakers are to me, as good as the 180 bricks and make the ZWL an extremely safe transformer for today’s electronic trains. Go for it. You’ll be glad you did.
Oh yes I know, I already have 2 I use on my main layout, but I need another one for my new Standard Gauge layout which is in another room. When will they make a Wi-Fi transformer I can use anywhere in the house! HAHA.
@Lou1985 posted:Are you running DCS or conventional? If DCS no need for throttle handles. Just get a couple PH180 bricks and call it good.
It will be both as I will probably have a mix from different years.
@Rider Sandman posted:Hello Sean. Prior to the ZW-L, Lionel made modern ZWs with separate power bricks. (https://www.lionel.com/product...-supply-set-6-32930, for example). I bought two of them, both used, and have been very happy with them. You might give them a look given your desire for a retro look.
If you have the alumunium pot mputning brackets - which were installed in the later tranformer and purchase the actual plastic pot brackets that someone on the forum redesigned. It a ok choice - at the right price.
Well….I have 3 ZW-L’s. 2 of them work fine. The 3rd one is sitting at Lionel for 1.5 years waiting for parts. I doubt I will ever get it back. It is beyond the warranty period.
They are a great transformer, just hope yours does not break because as GRJ posted, there are no parts.
Donald
