ZW output

Those that know these things say the ZW 250/275 watt are the same. Lionel just changed the way they rated the transformer.

i have read tests that show the 250 and 275 have almost identical outputs.  The top plate and other parts are usually available on ebay.  Typicaly one or more rollers need replaced. Don

But either way that is not output, it is input power.

Thanks for the replies. I have had the cover off and know I need the rollers and I will probably also do the zener diode and check other things out.

Larry

It may also be a 150-watt VW.

Bill

The pw ZW output is 190-200 watts-- some less if hot during continuos running as efficiency drops. My experience with 3 units over time.

Larry,

   Post a picture of the older ZW transformer, there is a chance I maybe able to identify it just from the top and front views of the transformer. 

In the picture below the ZW nearest the Z4K has the biger fancy L on top of it, and the Orange colored bulb cover, this is the Lionel 275 Watt ZW, the 1st ZW with the plain L, and the Burgandy colored bulb cover is the 250 Watt

ZW, unless the Lionel symbol has been changed,  most of the 250 ZW transformers were produced in this manner, but not all however.  The men are also correct about the actual outputs being almost the same, mine are almost identical.

I was also told that there is not really a Pre-War ZW, even though I always believed my 250 was a pre-war transformer.  The 2 ZW's in the pictures are original

nothing has been changed on them, except the addition of the female Banana plugs.

PCRR/Dave

 The 250 ZW usually has a plate on the front with it's identiy on it, shaped as you see below.

Per the Lionel repair manuals all ZW's originally output 180 Watts total to the track.
I tested it here:

http://www.tranz4mr.com/site/Z...._ZW_275_Type_R.html

On a side note as of yesterday www.allelectronics.com has the 1N1190AR diodes back in stock to replace the rectifier discs.

Kent,

   Did you ever get a chance to test the VW to see what the actual output was,

having never owned one I was never able to do it.

PCRR/Dave

Kent

I agree that it was 180 watts per Lionel at the time, based on 110 VAC line voltage. I may be wrong to a degree at 190-200 watts, but at today's typical 120 VAC line voltage[sans brownouts] it is somewhat higher. I always converted based on my ammeter readings when I had a full load of lighted passenger cars/trains on the same power district.

I have never used the Shop Watt Meter to check one. You must be using one in your tests.

Thanks for the info.

The output power is limited by the circuit breaker which could vary slightly from ZW to ZW but 180 watts is what I measured at the time. I remember that I was surprised at the time that they were that close to the spec. Pretty impressive for a 50 to 60 year old transformer,

I still have two of my original three pwZWs. The grand kids have one and the other is on my test track. Gave one to a newbie who who was near broke and needed to run his trains. All had been renovated excerpt for lack of diodes replacing discs on the one I gave away.

Now on 180 PoHos linked to IC Control's TPC 4000s.

Kent,

    It is amazing that all these ZW's have just about the same out put even after

so many years, a quality product no doubt about it.

PCRR/Dave

Here are the pictures of my transformer

If you use the simple formula ( P= E x I) that power = amps x volts  14a x 18v= 252 output watts.

Is there a "UL" sticker on the bottom plate, or an "R"...that looks like a big badged R type...the earlier version was the smaller top badged unit shown in PCRR's pic.

BTW- I'm getting the red X on pics 1 & 4. 

No there is no UL sticker on it. It used to have the sticker on the top and I think it was the stylized L 

I'm not to worried about it's actual output at this time, I am just wondering what model it is.

I can not answer the red x issue I get all 4 pics.

Larry

If it runs one postwar train real good and two postwar trains just ok then it's a ZW.

If two postwar trains run slowly its a VW. (Test with one freight and one passenger with lights.)

I'm not sure that's a good test as my ZW on the layout runs 4 "postwar trains real good".

A picture with the cover off would be all it takes to determine ZW vs. VW.  They are vastly different under the hood - and it's quite obvious.

I have not used this T'former in 50 years and it used to run a 2332 loco and 3 Madison passenger cars and a freight loco with 4 cars faster than they should have been run

Larry

Thanks

 tranz4mr

Larry

I just got a 250W ZW off of Ebay for my PW layout and did a check on output versus input power. I can get 18V at 10 amps from each output(one at a time). I used a Kill-a-Watt meter on the input to give me an accurate input wattage, and 2 handheld fluke true RMS meters on the outputs(one for volts, one for amps). load was a 300 watt 5 ohm variable resistor. The results were in line with what i expected-- effiency is about 70%- with 18V and 10A load, input watts was 260. I let it run for 30 minutes boy did that case get warm! Output voltage dropped about 2 volts, input watts stayed at 260ish--- so about 10% loss of effiency. stopped test after the half hour.

I have always been impressed with the ZW-- The one we used back in the 60's/70's worked for hours and hours without a glitch. I expect this one I now have will do the same.