Will a Lionel Post War ZW work with a Lionel 12867 135W PowerMaster??

Yes thy will as long as there fazed the same way.

I use 6  of the 180 bricks and an old zw.

the zw I have put modern fast blow breakers inline.it keeps from killing electrons in newer engines. 

If you have the later version with the power selector switch, set it 180 watts and you should be ok.

If it's the early version with no power selector switch, it's only capable of 135watts or 7.5amps. It would be possible to pull too many amps through it, and most likely damage it. I would put a fastblow fuse between the ZW and the powerhouse at 6-7amps if it is the early model.

I use 3 PW ZW's for power and 3 of the 5 loops have powermasters in-line. Each loop has a 10amp fast blow fuse to protect the engines from any type of derailment, etc. Bought the fuses from All Electronics with the help from someone here on this forum. Bought a hundred for 12 cents each with shipping at $7- 100 cost me $19 or 19 cents still cheaper than Radio Shack at 5 for $2.50. 

My other 2 loops have TPC wired inline there so I can run any 3 rail engines in conventional mode with a cab-1 or Legacy remote.

Fred- any other questions- give me a shout.

Thanks. 

Ted, which version of the powermaster are you using? Switch or 135's?

Hi Moonman,

I believe mine are the older ones with no switch so one side of a ZW is half of 250 and 275 watts. Been using them for years with no issues.

Thanks, Ted.

Sounds good. I suppose I am overly cautious about frying electronic gear.

Ted, I am fairly sure the ZWs have only one secondary winding with 4 taps for the 4 handles. Each one is capable of the full power rating of the ZW, ie 250-275 nominal, 180 continuous.

Pete

Correct Pete, all four rollers roll on the same secondary core, and you can draw all the power from any one of them.

Time for circuit protection in front of the PowerMasters.

Doesn't the Lionel #12893 Power Cable have an in-line Fuse already?? That's the cable that we will be using!! 

Fred

Yep, if you use that cable, just pick the appropriate size fuse.

John,

What would you suggest?  A 7AMP or 7 1/2AMP maybe?

Fred

A 7A, and if you have too much trouble with it, consider a time delay fuse.

Thanks John

I use the powermaster cable and replaced the fuse there with the larger 2mm size fuse holder and use 10 amp fuse blow fuses. Been working fine for years now.