ZW-L Arrived Today

That's a known issue that the levers don't match the actual output, had to do with the "old" look. It is capped at 18v if I remember. But the output seems lower than it should be at the track. I haven't checked mine so see what I get for sure.

As for Maylasia, yup, the factory in China relocated as they were building the first batch. It caused all sorts of issues.

I guess having the outputs less than what the meters indicate has an up side where if I accidentally bump the levers to max, I will only be putting 16v on the track - nowhere close to the 19 volt limits of Legacy locos. 

RickM46

RickM46,

   I see you took a 2nd mortgage and purchased the ZW-L, I have not done it yet.

However I thought the actual and the ZW-L readings were closer than you have pointed out, you might want to call Lionel and ask what the difference really is, yours seems to be more than just a little out.

PCRR/Dave

Been a while since I was reading the information on the ZW-L, but I believe the ZW-L is 'chopped' sine wave output. You need a meter that reads true RMS to get actual voltage readings from the outputs or the track.

It is defineatly chopped

The ZW-L is chopped.  My third party analog meters on my old control panel do not give me a good reading at low voltages, but are good at the higher voltage.  I believe the ZW-L tops out at 18volts even though it has 20 on the handle. 

This has good info on the ZW-L output

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...-oscilloscope-traces

I am appreciative of the above info and the info on the link from Miken.

Since I am electron challenged, per the above info, I gather a few things:

First, what's chopped mean??

The multi-meter I am using may not be giving me the right reading and that I need a 'RMS' meter.

So, if I go to Harbor Freight or Sears or some place suggested by the forum, is there a model that will be identified as having an 'RMS' capabiltity??

For now, I think I will set the voltage lever at 16 volts just to be safe till I know what is actually making it to the outputs.

Thanks,

RickM46

Yes Dave, I did take out a 2nd Mortgage for the BB and the ZW-L; but, hey, I am in the Autumn of my years.  I am planning a significant size layout for the spring.  I have a 2nd floor balcony overlooking my living room and will be constructing a shelf layout off the balcony and around the living room - 3 concentric tracks with 2 Lionchief locos and the 1 Big Boy - somewhere about 20 feet X 10 feet.

I am hoping the ZW-L will at least handle those 3 tracks and locos; I just hate to start something and not have enough.

RickM456

Or have fun and try to locate an old KLine "Reddy Kilowatt" Voltmeter boxcar. Those were actually a true RMS meter. 

You won't be able to purchase a true (good) RMS meter for 5 bucks at Harbor Freight.  Figure spending about $100 for a good one that you can trust to be accurate.  We ran into this problem at work (before I retired) when we were attempting to measure output voltages and ampere draws on variable frequency drives.  Bob S.

It has dynamic power output control up to the maximum rated for the unit. Each channel will get what it needs only, until there is no more. Not four times equal power.

A True RMS meter will usually be clearly marked as being True RMS. If you currently have one it will probably say so on the front. Harbor Freight does not have them. Radio Shack has/had one or two in the $40-$60 range. Gunrunnerjohn posted a Mastech he got on ebay that was very reasonably priced and had good specifications as well. I will see if I can find his post. Was interested in that one myself. There is a Lionel video by Mike Reagan that explains the pure (smooth) and chopped sine waves, I'll take a look for a link for that too. I'll be back later, unless someone beats me to it...

Ok, here are some links:

Link to Radio Shack True RMS meter

Link to Mastech meter (and thread) posted by gunrunnerjohn

Link to Lionel video on sine waves by Mike Reagan

This was covered at great length when the ZW-Ls first came out and we got them on our layouts.  Even the CTO of Lionel chimed in on the discussion.  Your ZW-L is fine and working as designed.  Everything you describe is correct.  Do a search and you will find the old discussions. 

Thanks Sean, I kind of had that gut feeling about it.

RickM46

My ZW-L was new in the carton but there was no shrink-wrapping.  Did they have multiple production runs? Mine shipped right when they first arrived.  I hope they didn't improve it for a second run.

The ZW-L does not have a pure sine waveform like the old transformers. I makes a shark fin type waveform that approaches a true sine wave at higher voltages. The previous thread shows these "chopped" waveforms.

I just purchased the ZW-L and I am still getting used to it. At first it made some of my fastrack connections and switches buzz.  My powerhouse 180s and post war ZW did not.  i had to go around the layout and make sure I had a tight connection at each buzzing joint. I then found two tiny shorts in my switches where the track power wire was soldered to a bus bar.  These shorts showed up only with the ZWL because of the vibrations from the buzzing. It also doesn't play well with a QSI reversing board in an old engine.

I really like the look of it. It has fantastic circuit protection and enough power to replace all of my other power supplies.  It is an excellent transformer, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Miken, thanks for the info.

I purchased the ZW-L because,

Of my memories of the old ZWs from the '50s which was the kids end all in those days;

For my future layout of 3 locomotives, I thought I wouldn't need any more power;

And last but not least, I thought it was cool looking.

RickM46

Thanks for the links!!

I will get the Mastech that gunrunnerjohn has.

RickM46

Rick,

   Hope you know I was only kidding and if you lived closer I would give you a hand building your new layout, it sounds great!

PCRR/Dave

Ha, no worries.

I went round and round with myself before I began my purchases.

Hey, I am originally from Pa. - a small coal mining town south of Pittsburgh - left after graduating from high school.  Now, my perm residence is in Indiana - flat; spending the winter in Fla.

You are right, I miss those beautiful rolling hills and mountains of Pa - filled with lush meadows - nothing is flat - great sled riding in the winter, beautiful scenery in the summer.

RickM46

And now it starts.

Rick,

Where in southwestern PA?

Mike (a Uniontown native)

Mike,

Masontown 12 miles west of Uniontown.

My folks used to do all their heavy duty shopping in downtown Uniontown; it was thriving at that time; State, Manos, Metzlers, Kaufmans, Sears, Wards, Hagans greasy spoon.  But I digress for this topic.

RickM46

And now it starts.

Well I actually lived in German Twp. near Footedale. Played little league in Masontown behind the fire hall.

My little town has changed; like Uniontown, it's downtown was alive and thriving with lots of businesses.  But, now, since steel has left this country, it is a ghost town; the last time I saw downtown Uniontown, it looked like it was headed in the same direction.  Malls didn't help.  I haven't been back for 25 years.

RickM46