Pat,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, the short was definitely internal on the V unit. Frankly, glad I was in the vicinity, or could have had a true disaster. And yes, plenty going on...and only in a 9X14 room! There is a half wall on one side, so viewers can see the operation without being in the room. So far, anyway, it's all working. Here's how it goes.
I have 3 main lines: 2 on the ZW and one powered by an MTH Z-500 with the inexpensive DCS remote commander to power a Rail King unit with Protosound (did not want to spring for the full blown DCS unit; everything else is either TMCC or conventional). Even when I have 2 mainlines in operation, one is on the ZW and the other is on the Z-500. They all work fine.
All switches and bumpers are on the BU circuit of the ZW and work fine at 14v. I am now connecting the lights and seeing how they function as I keep adding them. They are on the CU circuit of the ZW. So far the brightness looks OK, but not finished so will see if the one circuit can handle this.
For nearly all of the accessories, they are only intermittently operated (can't work them at same time!!), so I thought the voltage draw would be manageable: 1) the gatemen and crossing gates were on one of the circuits of the V unit, 2) the accessories operated by controllers (log loaders, cranes, etc) were on another circuit, and 3) the UCS tracks were on a 3rd circuit. This allows me to vary the voltage to each unit as necessary (not needed for gatemen/crossing gates).
I have to admit, while I have been checking the operation of each item as I add it, I have not had this layout in full operation (trains plus accessories), primarily b/c I can not manage all this and the grandkids at same time. So this might keep the power draw manageable at any given moment on the transformers.
I noticed the wattage on the R unit is 100 as compared to the V unit which is 250, so as you point out, the R unit may not be able to handle this load. If I must go with another transformer, I have seen many refurbished ones at train fairs. I trust a good ZW, but do not need the whistle and directional features for the accessories, so wondered what other units might work. Another V unit just might do it.
Still need some advice on connecting the R unit to this system, and if that is even possible.
Thanks again,
Michael
