Lionel ZW-L

Aren't there also studies which always produce the same results?

Looks just like the meters I just ordered.   I got the 10A AC meters and the 0-30 VAC meters.  I figure that I shouldn't be seeing more than 10A to one power district, since I'm putting 10A circuit breakers on them.

Gentlemen:

 

My LIFE depends on hemodialysis modality protocols.

 

For example, one study produces an acceptable  range for the Pth (parathyroid hormone) of 150-300, while another a range of 150-600!

 

Th kicker is the Tennessee protocol is the first one, while my North Carolina unit uses the latter. Go figure.

 

BTW, the Pth hormone regulates serum calcium and phosphorus, which in turn, affects the bone structure in end stage renal disease (kidney failure), which can result in osteopenia or worse, osteoporous!

 

And the medication (Zemplar) level depends on the Pth level.

 

How does one reconcile two DIFFERENT conclusions from studies about the SAME subject?

 

Different data collection, observation methods, and many other variables? Or just FLAWED (biased?) studies similar to cancer research re: what causes cancer: resulting in a different "flavor of the month"!

 

Some studies do confirm one other, but many more conflict with one another.

 

A healthy dose of skepticism is in order!

With all due respect, I still prefer my trusty Z-4000 digital readouts!

 

My two hobbies are staying alive (by being an informed dialysis patient) and model trains, not necessarily in that order!

You're correct, cjack. Bear in mind that Tinplate Art is a contrarian from way back. 

In fact, the superiority of analog instruments in transmitting information to the human brain has been settled now for so long, without contradiction, that it's pretty much set in stone. I did a little work with a psychologist who worked at NASA 40 plus years ago on ergonomic cockpit design, and it was well-settled a good deal prior to that time.

Gentlemen:

 

There are ALWAYS exceptions when it comes to human behavior.

 

I have been monitoring those digital meters on my Z-4000 for FOURTEEN-YEARS, and have made rapid adjustments to the voltage level whenever necessary without hesitation. Maybe I have a digital gene?

 

Seriously, I believe the new Lionel ZW-L will be a huge success, and it is a handsome design in spite of the analog meters!

 

Contrarian? Really?

It's hard to imagine what criteria were used to certify as safe the 620W version but not the 720W version. Also, I wonder what Lionel did to de-rate it. And of course, whether a simple (unapproved) change would get it back to the original spec. --Joe [Why can't I get paragraph breaks with this I-pad?]

Being a User Experience designer who does a lot of Usability testing, i would disagree. The scan time for a analog gauge is longer than a digital gauge. 

Being a user, I find it different.

 

More deaths have occurred from hairdryers than from toy train transformers, I can assure you that.

 

Big difference...  what's the power output of a hair dryer available at the binding posts?

You're free to believe what you like.  I can point to a mission-critical application, the aircraft cockpit.  The reason they're still presenting analog representations in a glass cockpit is that a lot of pretty smart folks don't believe you.  There have also been extensive studies on the topic for aircraft cockpits, and the answers always come up the same.

The 2012 catalog shows the ZW-L as 620 Watts and a maxium of 10Amps per channel.

Does this mean a maximum of 15.5 Volts per output?

It is not UL that approved the ZW-L but ETL.

The price is still $799.

 

I did the math today.  It's cheaper than buying 4- 180 power bricks & 4- TPCs if you want to run both Legacy & conventional on 4 blocks. $99 + $229 X 4 = $1312   And there are other cool features that I like about it.  I hope it works as advertised.

It could put out 18 vac or 10 amps, but not both at the same time...or it could do both at the same time, but not all four channels at once...or they could have just rated it below its real capabilities and manage both from all four channels for a time.

I'd like to see that re-priced with PM-1's instead of TPCs.

PM available now is $79.99 ea + powermaster bridge to run Legacy - another $54.99

and  direct lockons to protect pm for each block are $ 51.79 ea 

I'm thinking I want to stay away from pms with Legacy.  and I'm also thinking they made the ZWL with Legacy operations in mind

Just for information. In reference to Analog Panel Ammeter. I was reading yesterday a members remarks about AllElectronics.com. I checked out their site and ordered the 0-15 amp and the 0-25 volt meters. The cost is more than the e-bay site, $12.00 each and $7.00 shipping. The good news is the order is shipped already from CA.

I had ordered 2 each from the e-bay site about 10 days ago and there still in China. I'm guessing meters are the same, but we will see. I needed them like yesterday.

 

Larry Peterson

Erwin, TN.

It took me about three weeks to get my analog meters from China, but the price was right.