Z4000 what voltage works best ?

for me that is what I always use.

We run 18 volts for legacy at the club and works great. For conventional run whatever voltage you want (at own risk) for the speeds you desire.

If I'm running MTH locomotives I run the handles all the way up. They seem to run better, smoother and get better signal. Thats about 22 volts. I never burned up a smoke unit or warped a body from excessive heat.

Clem

Thanks guys ! 

I max out at about 18 volts.  Higher is tough on bulbs, and if you use variable channels, increases wave form distortion, which makes it hard to run conventional locos slowly.   I have found DCS locos work ok down to about 13 volts.

FYI, 18 VAC at the meter of the Z4000 does not necessarily mean the locos are seeing 18V on the track. There are impedance losses and load losses that can lower the actual voltage on the track hence the locos see Less than 18VAC. One thing I wish the Z4000 and the ZW-L had has is "remote sensing. Very easy to do and it keeps the voltage at the preset level regardless of the load, well almost

I have been running at 18 volts. Less seams to low for any caboose lights. I am newer to this hobby however jumped int a 8' by 28' table. ( started as a 4x8 but kept adding) I have all new proto 2 & 3 trains. outside 072 loop and inside 060 loop with a yard off to the side with 10 switches. I tried unsuccessfully to have several blocks on my two loop track and failed having the train stop everywhere. I got frustrated and removed all the blocks and just added power every 8 feet or so.I do have my yard blocked off and that runs on my track 2 power. It actually works great now but wasn't sure if that was the way to do it. I assumed blocking track was for running conventional ?

Don't forget that the voltage on the remote for the variable channels will not be the track voltage if you have it set at 18v on the transformer. 18v in the screen is about 14.5v actual. DCS always assumes there is 22v on the track.

If you apply a voltmeter to the track block on which a train is actually running, or use the track voltage softkey, you will notice a substantial drop from what the Z4000 meters read.

Porsche1662,

   I usually just set the Handles to 18/19 Volts on my Z4K's and leave them, every once in a while I test the track with the clamp voltage meter to see the actual delivered track voltage.

PCRR/Dave