@CALNNC posted:Well, that clears that up, thanks. A corded wall wart after a fashion, with more current capability You never know how nicknames get applied, like CB'ers who call the power transistor in an illegal amplifier a 'pill'.
More than glad to explain. You might have seen the title ZW controller and not been aware that unlike the postwar ZW you might use or be familiar with. A more modern unit was created with UL standards and regulations of the time likely at play, along with command and control desired of modern electronics, the ZW-C is a different animal than your old school ZW.
http://www.lionel.com/products...-supply-set-6-32930/
The ZW-C is an electronic based controller that takes the incoming constant voltage 18V AC from one or more of the "Powerhouse" 180 Watt "bricks" and varies that voltage to the track. It uses transistor and electronics rather than rollers and a core transformer. And that is why you may see discussions of them, because when those electronics fail- they tend to do bad things.
Also, this series was discontinued- and then replaced by the ZW-L- similar concept, but with a large transformer internally rather than the external Powerhouse modules. http://www.lionel.com/products...ransformers-6-37921/
