Lionel's ZW-L

Awesome news.

OK that is a ugly place for the on/off switch. Like the idea but not the execution

Doesn't bother me.

Chris is right on about the switch location. Here is a little funny story about the location of the on/off switch.

At York Lionel had the new ZW-L on display and it is a great looking transformer with alot of neat enhancements built into it. But the clear plastic cover they had over it to keep hands like my own off of it was just a bit to small. So everytime someone would bump into the darn thing it would shut off the ZW-L thus killing power to the display.

When they lift it off to get the display running again the case would trip the switch half the time they tried to replace the cover.

So when you place this great item on your layout make sure you put it some place where it wont get belly bumped.

Wow!! All I want to know is: Does the cpu have 4 cores and does it need premium fuel?

Ron

I guess it's a good thing I don't run my trains with a plexiglass case over the transformer.

So can someone help me here.  I have a Legacy controller (haven't used it yet) and if I get this ZW-L, is that all I need to operate all the features of a Legacy engine?  Or do I need the 185 watt "powermasters"?  I am new to this.  Thank you ahead of time.

Sir Ansonnn,

If it can help you

I run my 2 Lionel engines and all my modest layout lights (11X11) with the legacy control command with a little CW-80.

Ansonnn, you do not need a powermaster. Just the ZW-L and a legacy controller to run legacy & tmcc engines.

Doug

And to be clear, you can use almost any O gauge train transformer along with a Legacy Base to run Legacy and TMCC engines.  But if you did get the ZW-L you will also be able to run conventional engines as well.

I'm really looking forward to this and glad it is finally close to shipping.

However, I certainly hope they fix that wicked throttle creep that is so evident at the about the 6:05 mark of the video.

Doug

Yep, just turn the power up and you'll be all set.  You can also limit your top speeds by not putting the transformer on the full 18V, but that's up to you.

On command engines, those equipped with TMCC or Legacy, then yes full voltage.  Then address the engine and it's electronics will control it.

With a ZW-L you can run conventional engines and vary the voltage to the track via the electronics in the ZW-L.

Hi:  I just finished watching the new ZW-L vid by that great vid star - Mike Reagan. He does a really good job - maybe Hollywood will still call him (?); but I digress,  I also did note the ZW-L's  A & D  levers moved by self, as if the handles were heavy and tooo loose.  I do hope that this was an exception and not the rule on these units.  It showed up in more than one spot of the vid. When I spoke with Mike Reagan he had mentioned at TCA York, that they at Lionel Ohio had just got some of the new ZW-L's in, and were only starting to explore them, so not too much was available as regards the internals at that time. It looks and sounds, from the vid that they have been busy going over it.

      I still think that, unless some Motherboards are re-run for the older ZW-PWC and the following generations, a trade-in allowance or rebate should be available for those with bad Motherboards. I posed that suggestion to Remy at TCA York, and his reply was that the idea was tossed around, but disgarded!!!! Left out to dry again!  I would still petition Lionel for either a trade-in or a rebate if I had a bad ZW that was due to a "blown Motherboard" and no parts are available.  Dennis M.

i watched the video and the ZW-L seems complicated to run. other than having a volt/amp meter what can it do or what is its advantage over what a legacy 990 can do?

It can run conventional trains without a TPC, PM-1, or PM Bridge.

They will not move at all as long as your Legacy or TMCC base unit is turned on. The first time that I ever used my Legacy system I was running 2 command engines with a few cars on each on the same track and the display was only 3'6" x 8' in size. And I only had a about 1 hr. of time using TMCC prior to using my Legacy system. Needless to say I fell in love with Legacy. 

Paul

The ZW-C will run trains in conventional mode as well, w/o a TPC, Power Master or Bridge. I prefer the C version over the new L version, even with the addition of the Volt and Ammeters.

To run in conventionnal mode, we can also add a big 20$ (used) with another CW-80.

Has there been any technical information on the type of circuit breakers ?

Electronic I assume?

How long to reset breaker from a short?

(I have not been able to view the video yet)

Regards,

Carl J

A quick short (red light flashes) as soon as it clears.  An extended short ( red light stays on solid) the power must be removed.

Marty,

Thanks for the feedback.

So no need to worry about adding "fast-acting" 3rd party circuit breaker then?

Regards,

Carl j

Not from the looks of it... but then again I haven't seen one myself other than York.