zw question

Yes. All 4 outputs share a common return path, so no phasing or any other issue.

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

Yes. All 4 outputs share a common return path, so no phasing or any other issue.

Thanks for this, Arthur. Realizing that ZWs have a common ground/path makes me wonder about my KWs. I'm guessing that's not the case with KWs? I have a problem right now running two unconnected trains with accessories wired to an LW, etc. When an engine on an inside path crosses an insulated section, all **** breaks loose, so for now I'm only running one train. I'm guessing it's most likely a wiring snafu, but wondering if it might be that the KW has a separate ground issue?

@Virginian65 to answer part of your question, the KW does share a common ground between the two U terminals. There’s not enough information concerning your other issue with the LW to provide a response.

KW is definitely a common ground. I assume what you are seeing is that the train goes from a section controlled by "A" into one controlled by "B", and it suddenly speeds up? That is what phasing would do (or the opposite, would crawl, depending on the way the phasing was out).

I agree with others, we need more information. Did it always work this way, is this a new install, or did it suddenly happen? If it suddenly happened, had you changed anything? Did you wire any accessories?  I am wondering if you are getting voltage leak from a fixed output getting to the track.

One thing I thought of (and the experts on here can weigh in on that), if you are using the fixed voltage plug on the switches, I wonder if that has anything to do with it. I always had switches using track power and I wonder if you wire those switches wrong could the fixed voltage bleed to the track. The switch would need to tap into the middle rail to get power, could it be 'bleeding back'?  One suggesting, disconnect the fixed voltage to the switches, and see if the problem with the engines still occurrs if an engine goes over that joint.

@Virginian65 posted:

...makes me wonder about my KWs. I'm guessing that's not the case with KWs? I have a problem right now... with accessories wired to an LW, etc.

The "U" posts on the KW are common, but the usual mistake made when using the LW is that this transformer follows the convention for 1 train transformers... the "A" posts on this one are common.  Keeping this in mind, you should be able fix your electric gremlins.

@Virginian65 to follow up on what @ADCX Rob was discussing here is a table which shows various transformers with their common ground terminals and their associated voltage options. As you can see the LW uses A as the common terminal.

Here is a chart showing the LW: