zw transformer

Do yourself a favor and buy the new ZW-L. All the power built in to the transformer.

ditto,

OR if you don't mind postwar stuff

get a postwar ZW

I use 4 of them on my board have not had any trouble.

Excellent advice.  Much better set up.

If not wanting to spend as much and willing to give the MTH product a try, the Z-4000 has the same principle - no power bricks.

The new ZW you are looking at has the transformers essentially in the bricks. The ZW case just controls the distribution of power from the bricks. You can add 2 more power bricks so that each throttle has it's own supply.

Search the forum as some of the new (early release) ZW's had problems with the handles not meshing properly with the controling gears inside.

It looks like this with the bricks (actual transformers) being on the right. You could add two more bricks, either 135w or 180w, to the ZW. It can handle four bricks.

#842,

There is a lot of advice out there. You're the one who must be happy at the end of the day. Or I should say, at the end of each play session. The only thing I would like to add is this. Always buy more power than you need. Allow yourself room to grow.

Holly shnikees....Are you Sammy Kershaw?

I would love to go to a Z4000, however it's more of a budget issue for me. This is why I like the ZW, I can find one on line that's been totally reconditioned for less than 200 bucks. right now I'm using 2, 110 RW's and 1 cw-80. The RW's work very well but I would like to run all 3 of my tracks on one transformer and use the RW's for turnouts.

If it's a budget issue for you then the post war ZW wins! You should be able to get one for under $200.00. I would advise buying one at a train show rather then on-line as the shipping may eat you up, also you can test the ZW at a train show.

For better circuit protection you can add circuit breakers after each output terminal, an 8 amp breaker should be enough power for each track unless you run a lot of lighted passenger cars. The add-on breakers are about $3.00 a piece.

I use Mouser Electronics for my circuit breakers, good prices and good quality.

Lee Fritz

Here is a different view.  I have a ZW-C.  The advantage of the ZW-C over the PW ZW is TMCC control of the outputs.  All 4 tracks.  It is expandable from the 2 180Watt you start with to 4 180 Watt Bricks.  The Lionel Power House Bricks have the best circuit breakers I have seen.  Lightening fast.  This set up also gives you the Halt which can kill all power at the press of one button.

The significant difference between C and the New L besides cost and greater power in the L (if you need more than 720Watts the C can provide).  Is the ZW-C is light and can easily be on your control panel without heavy support.  The bricks can be hidden under the layout.

The old ZW is limited to about 10-12amps and they are heavy.  So you do get to the point of using 2 ZW where 1 ZW-C would work.

As with anything there are pro and cons to each unit, and as Pappy put it best you need to determine what features are most important to you.   G

For a little more you can find a used 6-32930 that NJCJOE pictured. You'll be glad you did versus the postwar ZW.

Although the PW and modern ZWs have 4 controls, only the outer handles are really useful for conventional train control.  The inner 2 are intended for accessory control. 

If you plan to conventionally run 3 independent train loops, you will not have whistle and bell controls on the inner handles (except with TMCC/Legacy control).  The PW ZW doesn't have any bell controls, just whistle/horn.

If you are running TMCC or Legacy, the modern ZW can be a good value.