I’m a little bit confused. The Z4000 was released in 1998 and has been in production since. Is there a difference in quality between z4000 transformers manufactured in 1998 vs z4000 transformers produced more recently
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I found this original question from late last year but don't see any answers. I'm interested if there were any differences in quality, reliability, etc. between the original production and late production. I have an opportunity to buy a Z4000 at a very good price but I have to look in to the age of the transformer if there might be differences. If not, I will just go ahead and purchase it.
This has been covered a few times. In general I would say no quality difference as far as construction or build quality. Output power is the same, reliability is the same.
The difference is simply a revision in the board system. After that one time revision, all from that date on to in theory even the most recent batch are identical.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...-date-of-manufacture
@H1000 posted:Look at the serial number of the Z4000. The first two digits indicate the month of manufacture and the second two digits indicate the the year of manufacture.
A serial number that begins with 0398 was mad in March of 1998, this is the first run of Z4000's ever made.
Everything after that run is the SAME part numbers.
Early versions (that 0398 or earlier) can have the minor voltage leak, meaning when the throttle is at the lowest off position, there is a slight voltage present output- that can be resolved easily without even opening the transformer in many cases with a load as simple as a light bulb in parallel to the output. There is also a capacitor modification that can be done internally, and I've done that mod before (to all the club transformers and several local customers).
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...000-residual-voltage
I wouldn't "not buy" (I know double negative) a Z4000 just because it was an early revision and because of pricing our club which has 4 Z4000, we have at least 2 of them that are early versions. Back before the shortage, we bought them at under $300
Straight from MTH parts describes the 2 different PCBs that are used as a matched pair depending on version. You have the power board, and the front control panel.
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Hi Vernon,
Thank you. That information is very helpful. I think the store has it as $325 marked down to $275. I'm not sure if it is new or used as I know they buy collections. Kind of a hard deal to pass up at that price. I intend to just keep it as a spare but I'll check the output to make sure it is working properly.
