Z4000 issue

What happens when you disconnect the Z4000 from the TIU?

If you have blocks set up on your track, are any trains bridging any insulated gaps making continuity between the two sides of the transformer?

Agreed, unplug this from your TIU and track wiring. You appear to be getting cross feed- and given that I repair these Z4000s, that's not a fault if you understand how the transformer is built. The handle cannot internally control the other channel- but the voltmeter can read a voltage coming back in on the channel.

I just tested this and can replicate the result. A wire connecting the 2 red channel outputs (since black is all internally common) results in your exact problem.

Again, it's probably NOT the Z4000, you have shorted your 2 tracks together somewhere and are backfeeding the Z4000 channel.

I would yes unplug the TIU- but since I also repair them, again, my bet is your track and wiring on the outputs is the source of this problem, not the TIU and not the Z4000.

Again, key point is that TIU channels are also isolated internally and I have yet to see a fault that can cross talk power out of the 2 channels. This clearly points at your output wiring on the output side of the TIU and track as the fault, not your TIU and not the Z4000.

And, specifically, your attached video does not show the output wiring of the TIU to your track.

So, this implies there is nothing wrong with the Z4000, nothing wrong with the TIU, and something likely wrong at your track and wiring between the track and TIU.

Another factor I noticed in your video is your TIU would be constantly powered if you hooked up an aux power adapter. As it stands now, you must power channel 1 fixed in to have the logic of the TIU powered. If you only power up channel 2, then the TIU logic would not function.

Again, I'm able to exactly replicate that result with a known good Z4000 simply by shorting the red outputs of the 2 channels together.

You certainly have more “guts” than me shorting out your electronic equipment, Vernon! 🤪

@Bruce Brown posted:

You certainly have more “guts” than me shorting out your electronic equipment, Vernon! 🤪

I'm repairing a Z4000 power board today, so I have some insight to what can and does happen, what won't kill one and what will kill one.

In phase power- especially from the same transformer not ideal, but not destructive. It's all coming from the same core transformer.

Power from another transformer or out of phase somehow is extremely destructive.

Also, I did some power load testing of Z4000 https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...o-other-transformers

Hi all thanks again for the input and feedback. It’s been a while I know. I am posting a video to hopefully get some assistance on additional troubleshooting that’s required because I’m still at step one. Thank you all for your time and support happy holidays hopefully I can report back that we’ve collaborated to resolve the issue and I could run some trains for the little ones this year.

Have you done any of the troubleshooting that has been suggested in the previous posts?

This is not an issue with the Z4000, it is an issue with your track and wiring somewhere.

Yes disconnected one of the terminal blocks from the TIU and the transformer works with no issue.
can anyone assist with any observations on how I have wired the terminal block?

I reseeded all cabling before and had it working for a bit.

now I am back to square 1.

You have to cut a middle rail to isolate your loops

I have isolation clips on the track.
I have to complete installation on the entire loop.

is the crossover interference occurring at the switches that join 072 loop with O64 possibly?

@awp34 posted:

I have isolation clips on the track.
I have to complete installation on the entire loop.

is the crossover interference occurring at the switches that join 072 loop with O64 possibly?

What kind of track are you using   Somehow the two loops you have are connected together   You have to isolate where that is   Disconnect one drop at a time and see where its jumping over   What is an isolation clip?  If you dont have the middle rail isolated between your switches thats the problem

I have Ross track and Ross switches

You have two problems    You fixed the voltage jumping to the other side with the isolated pins   That third car has a short in it   Place it on the track by itself and see if it shorts  First run the engine with no cars  One step at a time

It’s definitely the car.

at least suggestions on how to fix it?

It could be a number of things.  It’s probably a pinched wire.  Take the shell off and look for a smashed wire that is bare and touching the frame

Very good example here of using the process of elimination to solving the problem.

Thanks I’ll I’ll take a look at the cars at my earliest opportunity. I’m happy to report that I have two running locomotives for the holiday season this year! Thank you to all that helped me in the troubleshooting process