ZW-L UL listed?

Depends on what you need for power, a ZW is pretty much power for a small layout.

Anyway the UL listing should by mentioned in the catalog or on the actual transformer.

A new MTH Z-1000 would be plenty of power for a small layout unless you have two trains running at once. Then you might want to consider MRC for a two train transformer.

Lee Fritz

I would think a ZW-L would be hopeless overkill for a small holiday layout, though it would be quite decorative.

A ZW-L seems overkill for a kids holiday layout. It must be one **** of a holiday layout if you need 720 watts of power.

Depending on the size a CW-80 is probably adequate, otherwise a GW-180 should do the job and its 1/3 of the price.

I run my entire 10'x16' layout on 1- 180w brick.

bottom label of ZW-L 

"CONFORMS TO UL STD. 697"

Well, technically 620 watts, but still overkill.

Had a cw80 that has gotten quite loud.  This year the layout will be bigger.  Besides powering the holiday layout, it would potentially be a new power source for a permanent layout.  Rather than buy six transformers, I would rather buy one and be done.  The focus on ZWL versus Z4000 is that the kids are comfortable with our postwar ZW and these operate in the same manner, but have the benefit of modern safety features for the kids and the trains.

I see the mention of conforms to UL but that doesn't mean it is UL listed.  I am just curious as to why this seeming common information is not in plain view.

http://ulstandardsinfonet.ul.c...pes.asp?fn=0697.html

Don't listen to these conservatives, get one!

If it doesn't say UL, there are other testing labs out there that could've certified this. As someone above pointed out, it "conforms" to UL standard xxx, but it could've been tested by ETL, TUV, etc. Some kind of testing has been done to it.

Its ETL Listed see page 4:    Lionel ZW-L

You cannot sell any electrical appliance,fixture,equipment,etc.in the US. if it is not UL Listed.

Thanks.  Joking around aside, I appreciate what the folks here are saying -- they are trying to be helpful and save an unnecessary expenditure.  Problem is that I provided little context.  We have a postwar ZW that has more than sufficient power.  My wife is concerned about safety of a transformer from the late 1940s.  I had it gone through and she is still uncomfortable.  I pointed out I use external breakers too, etc. but it is a comfort issue.  We may build a large/larger layout in the next few years, so rather than have, as I mentioned above, 6 different transformers I would rather just get something that is a replacement for the ZW and be done, even if it is overkill for a Christmas layout.  Point taken and understood.  But this is also the reason I asked about the UL listing.  If the whole point of the drill is safety (or perhaps perceived safety, I am not convinced the ZW with the breakers is unsafe) then I want to make sure the new one has the appropriate certification.  Not that money is no object either, but I suspect we'll have whatever is purchased for a long time.

I will look into the ETL listing.  Not sure what that is exactly but I will read up on.

Thank you all for the information and advice.

False, from the UL website:

Do I need to have the UL Mark on my product in the United States? Is there a law stating that my product should have a UL Mark? Does our product require UL testing?

The ZW-L is the most expensive transformer you can consider.  If you need tons of power, it's a very good choice.  There are many "modern" transformers that have plenty of power for expansion that would probably cost around half of what the ZW-L would cost.  For instance, the Z-4000, or the MTH Pure Power 270 are some other choices.

If we don't know the selection criteria, it's pretty hard to give useful suggestions.

BTW, ETL testing appears to be equivalent to UL.  Both are "nationally recognized testing laboratories" by OSHA.  So that puts that issue to bed.

hello RAL..........

Perhaps purchase the MTH Z-4000 as it is listed "UL".   I had it for few years now and it is a solid build transformer.  This Z-4000 has been around since 1998 and really good design. I am concerned about the "UL" rating too.  I have plans to buy the ZW-L but later changed my mind because of it (not UL listed) and it has been in production for few years now which is not enough for me to feel safe using it.  I Think the Z-4000 is the largest PRODUCTION "UL" listed transformer in the market today.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

I was originally leaning towards the Z4000 but then read up on the ZW-L a bit.  I didn't realize it had quite that much power.  My criteria is simple:  to have sufficient power to expand so that one transformer does the trick.  I don't warehouse trains or accessories and I don't like to waste space, so one will do even if overkill now.  It's likely also more efficient from a money perspective to buy one and be done.  Up until now the only reason I ever had a CW80 is because it came with a set.  I used the ZW for everything.  One issue / concern I have with the ZW-L is a number of years ago I looked into getting the ZW that was being sold with bricks as a replacement and then read that there were reliability issues and unavailable parts.  If that is still an issue, or could be, I would be very inclined to go with the Z4000 as the more proven choice. 

Thank you all for the helpful responses and guidance.

I have a ZW and bought a ZW-L at the last LCCA show in Concord.  One advantage that I love about it is when used in conjunction with my Legacy system I can use it on 4 "loops" to remote control my old school conventional locomotives.  As I am primarily a fan of looping and seeing a bunch run at once this was great news to me.  

If I WAS going to get a CW-80 I would buy one of the Major League sets currently as low as $150, keep the transformer and sell the rest of the stuff.

The ZW anything is a visual treat.

Get some of these...

http://www.charlesro.com/store...p;Category_Code=OLTP

They trip in microseconds and protect the layout and trains from arcs. You can read about them...

http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/psx_ac.htm

put one in series with each output. Some will tell you that the new ZW-L will do the same thing, but I have experience with these. They work.

I'm sure I know a LOT less about the ZW-L than most posters to this thread, but I thought one reason for Lionel dropping the total output power from 720 watts to 620 was for UL approval? Was thinking this might have been in one of their videos? Maybe that was for the ETL listing and not the UL? Anyone remember this?

To add, I use the Lionel PowerHouse 180's and I also have the PSX-AC devices that cjack posted links to on the output of each PH-180 before anything else on the layout. The PSX-AC is an excellent breaker, extremely fast and includes many nice additional features on top of it's excellent circuit protection. If you have any doubts about the UL/ETL listings of your layout power, using these should put your fears to rest as far as your low voltage power to your layout goes.

If I remember correctly they opted not to go with UL certification and went with the ETL instead. UL was refusing to go along even with the reduced rating whereas ETL would accept 620

The Z4000 and the ZWare intended for large layout  For a Christmas layout the MTH Z1000 or the GW180 are fine

Thanks, that's probably it, I just missed the ETL part somewhere along the way.