in the market for a new transformer. Does anyone have information/opinions on MTH Z 4000 vs. Lionel ZW-L transformers. At some point I will be going to some sort of TMCC or DCS remote control. Thanks for the help.
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Originally Posted by PA Train Guy:
in the market for a new transformer. Does anyone have information/opinions on MTH Z 4000 vs. Lionel ZW-L transformers. At some point I will be going to some sort of TMCC or DCS remote control. Thanks for the help.
I had a Z-4000 for four years. It was a good unit - and its digital meters are better, in my opinion, than the ZW-L's dials. But I got rid of the Z-4000 and went with a ZW-L replacement anyway. I run conventionally and it runs Lionel conventional and Legacy noticeably smoother and slower with better control than the Z-4000 did, and even runs MTH PS2 and 3 a tiny bit better in conventional than the Z4000. and of course it has more protection and output.
The difference may not be worth the difference in price to you though: when I bought the ZW-L was about $200 more than the Z-4000.
I am a newbie, so FWIW:
I am planning a 3 track 20X15' layout, so I bought the ZW-L in January 2015.
I am only using it on a 6X7' 2 track living room layout now.
No problems so far; due to low draw, the cooling fan has only kicked in a few times on low speed - barely audible.
Voltage out is capped at 18v max; used a true RMS meter to verify that.
While messing around taking locos on and off the track, I forgot to cut power but the ZW-L did it for me when I shorted the locos on the tracks - nice feature.
It has 4 output posts each with its own power lever.
I like the analog volt and amp meters.
The lionel site rates it at 720watts but fellas on this forum found that it is 620 watts.
Mine was made in Indonesia.
RickM46
