Switching from conventional postwar to LCC

No-nothing else is needed.  But see the comments below about using external circuit protection on the Postwar (PW) ZWs.  IF interested, I have a full writeup on the ZWs, and ZW-L - e-mail me at:

mikewyatt49@gmail.com

The ZW-L has four separate power supplies, and when one gets "taxed" to its capacity it takes power from the others.  So you have in effect use of all 720 watts. or 40 amp capacity.   My locos, pulling cars, whether new or  postwar (I have a 1952 Hudson also) draw about 2 amps each, with 15 or so cars. 

Important point: The older, in-transformer breaker on the ZWs was designed to protect the transmitter- not the locos. The circuit breaker would kick out in as long as 10-15 seconds, easily long enough to fry the electronics in a new locomotive.  (anything after about 1990.)  The ZW-L  has top-rate circuit protection - ZWs DO NOT.  If there is even a derailment, the ZW-L (and add-on external breakers for the old ZWs)  kick out in about 2 seconds.  SO running the newer locos that have electronic anything, you should be using the ZW-L unless you add the circuit breaker protection to your ZW. 

(It took me awhile to realize and utilize this) but the ZW-L when set in command mode, can be used with your handheld Cab 1 (Legacy) or Cab 2  (TMCC) to control voltage to the track, thereby allowing handheld walk around control of any of your conventional locos.  The ZW-L also (running conventionally) gives up to 200 speed steps for finer control of ALL locomotives.  You also get to reset circuit interruptions, and shut off or turn on track power using the remotes- no more walking all around the layout to reset the transformer when you have to fix a derailment.  Or to shut off track power while you place a new locomotive on the track (a common source for shorts) - just turn off the power using the CAB 1 or 2, place the locomotive, then turn the power back up.

I switched from 3 PW ZWs, to replacing one of them with the ZW-L, and I bought my ZW-L after the layout was mostly done.   So I am NOT using the three the way I would have, if I had the ZW-L from the beginning.

But- I have mine set as follows:

ZW-L: Output A (Right Lever) controls main track voltage.  I turn on the system, and using a Cab 2- turn UP the track voltage to max to run Legacies, and TMCC.,  Lion Chief (set locos, or LC Plus)  using the universal remote or their dedicated remote.

Output B- the stub lever right side-I use to power a separate section of 7 houses , a church, and a cafe.

Output C- the left hand stub lever- I use to control voltage to all switches and signals -I run it at the level where all of them work- 1 or 2 switches are a bit stubborn, so that means about 16 volts.

Output D- Left Handle- because of the location of the ZW-L, that one is unused as well.  BUT it would make a great way to run a trolley or other loop on the railroad that runs at a steady speed or light a city,  

The PW ZWs run lights for the city, a Bump N Go trolley, and a coal yard switcher , then (ZW on opposite side)  a coal mine lighting, and  a switcher.

I know I am way overpowered!

Mike,

Thanks - that is a great explanation and answers my questions. Appreciate all the details.

Also glad to hear you have a running 1952 Hudson as well. Mine was my Fathers train and I still set it up and run it every Christmas. Now that I am retired, I plan a permanent set-up.

@Mike Wyatt posted:

The ZW-L has four separate power supplies, and when one gets "taxed" to its capacity it takes power from the others.  So you have in effect use of all 720 watts. or 40 amp capacity.   My locos, pulling cars, whether new or  postwar (I have a 1952 Hudson also) draw about 2 amps each, with 15 or so cars.

Small correction, UL certification limited the output to 620 watts.

Actually this is a timely discussion for me. I have mostly conventional engines and I likely will wire my layout for conventional block control (would anyhow)  with a 4 way rotary selector switch on each block for the 4 handles/channels. I have two postwar transformers, a KW and a ZW. Having looked at the ZW-l it looks intriguing because you can control the voltage using legacy or TMCC controller rather than using powermasters.

I have 2 questions about this:

1)Can you control all 4 variable outputs on the ZW-L via legacy/tmcc? I could see where I would have  conventional engines running on independent loops (yeah, I am one of those) and maybe controlling something in a yard or on spur track or my planned dock area at the same time.

2)Really dumb question, when you are using the legacy controller on those 4 channels,I assume the reversing and the whistle functions work on all 4?

Eventually I would like to have most of my engines running command, will convert those that can be,but it will be nice to still be able to run some old favorites in conventional mode. I would rather use a ZW-L rather than using my old PWs with powermasters on the 4 outputs if I can swing the cost (I likely would run with 2 channels off the KW for yards and such, 2 off of ZW that I would use on the mainline blocks if I don't go the zw-l route).

@bigkid posted:

Actually this is a timely discussion for me. I have mostly conventional engines and I likely will wire my layout for conventional block control (would anyhow)  with a 4 way rotary selector switch on each block for the 4 handles/channels. I have two postwar transformers, a KW and a ZW. Having looked at the ZW-l it looks intriguing because you can control the voltage using legacy or TMCC controller rather than using powermasters.

I have 2 questions about this:

1)Can you control all 4 variable outputs on the ZW-L via legacy/tmcc? I could see where I would have  conventional engines running on independent loops (yeah, I am one of those) and maybe controlling something in a yard or on spur track or my planned dock area at the same time.

YES

2)Really dumb question, when you are using the legacy controller on those 4 channels,I assume the reversing and the whistle functions work on all 4?

YES

Eventually I would like to have most of my engines running command, will convert those that can be,but it will be nice to still be able to run some old favorites in conventional mode. I would rather use a ZW-L rather than using my old PWs with powermasters on the 4 outputs if I can swing the cost (I likely would run with 2 channels off the KW for yards and such, 2 off of ZW that I would use on the mainline blocks if I don't go the zw-l route).

YES TO ALL.