ZW-L Failure. I was afraid this would happen.

What load & what meter are you testing this with?

ADCX Rob posted:

What load & what meter are you testing this with?

Load: trains running around on their own with the throttle turned off

Meter: regular voltmeter. I realize it doesn’t measure chopped waves accurately. But that’s not the issue. 

 Actually, have 2 of them...flawless so fair. So, like a blown output - triac. The way the old power masters use to fail.

I have a ZW-L.  No problems.

What you describe is like a MTH Z-4000 - I had two and got rid of them.

So.  I'll go back and run my trains without a problem on my  ZW-L.

Is the meter for that channel lit or is the red light on?  I found the manual online and it describes on page 5 the wattage limiting and shorts.

Doug

This is why club layouts use z4000s and not the zwl,  they dont hold up. None of the zw remakes held up. The old zw which isn't that powerful keeps kicking though!! It's not any brands fault it's just electronic devices.  

trnluvr posted:

Is the meter for that channel lit or is the red light on?  I found the manual online and it describes on page 5 the wattage limiting and shorts.

Doug

Yes, the meter for the A-U channel is lit. Power comes out with the throttle off and while the meter reads 0 volts.  Real power, not phantom. The circuit protection has failed on this channel also. No red light. No fold-back, no circuit breaker function. So much for their “triple protection”. Am I surprised? No. After all, the Titanic sank with 16 watertight compartments. BTW, if you get a short, there is a loud pop and clould of acrid smoke. I have removed the transformer from my layout. It is not in a safe condition to operate. 

The forum sponsor I purchased it from, Nassau Hobbies, sent me a one line email suggesting that I call Lionel. With their sale complete, their hands are washed of it.  Note to self for future reference. Buyer beware. 

No issues with my ZW-L's.  Very unfortunate and I hope you get it resolved

I don’t know that it’s a buyer beware scenario. Lionel has sold quite a few of those and you don’t hear much about them failing. From what I hear, those are really nice transformers and things happen. The world is not a perfect place. Consider yourself blessed that your biggest problem is your expensive toy broke.  It is still under warranty so give Lionel a call, get an RMA get it fixed. Nassau Hobby may not be equipped to repair such an item and your fastest resolution will be to call Lionel for help.

Yes, it's an expensive toy. I will be contacting Lionel when they re-open. Lionel is shut down today because of 2.7 inches of snow. Routine weather up north. But in North Carolina, it's a crisis and the NC governor is again back on TV wearing that shirt with that huge, wacky-looking triangle patch.

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

This is why club layouts use z4000s and not the zwl,  they dont hold up. None of the zw remakes held up. The old zw which isn't that powerful keeps kicking though!! It's not any brands fault it's just electronic devices.  

Sorry Dmax,  but I have to totally disagree with you on your statement about the zw-l.   Our modular club(Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers) has been using the same zw-l for years now on more layout setups and displays than I can remember and it just keeps on ticking.   We have a 4 track mainline and the zw-l is used only to power those tracks and nothing else.   We sometimes have 4 passenger trains,  each train from between 7-18 illuminated cars,  running at the same time with no problems.   If a derailment occurs and trips a breaker for that track,  we just reset the breaker and we're up and running again.   Our current display at the 2018 Kennywood Holiday Lights is 67' x 60' with an approx 290' track run to complete one loop of the layout.   So from our club's viewpoint,  the zw-l has been virtually indestructible.

Nick

machinist posted:

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

This is why club layouts use z4000s and not the zwl,  they dont hold up. None of the zw remakes held up. The old zw which isn't that powerful keeps kicking though!! It's not any brands fault it's just electronic devices.  

Sorry Dmax,  but I have to totally disagree with you on your statement about the zw-l.   Our modular club(Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers) has been using the same zw-l for years now on more layout setups and displays than I can remember and it just keeps on ticking.   We have a 4 track mainline and the zw-l is used only to power those tracks and nothing else.   We sometimes have 4 passenger trains,  each train from between 7-18 illuminated cars,  running at the same time with no problems.   If a derailment occurs and trips a breaker for that track,  we just reset the breaker and we're up and running again.   Our current display at the 2018 Kennywood Holiday Lights is 67' x 60' with an approx 290' track run to complete one loop of the layout.   So from our club's viewpoint,  the zw-l has been virtually indestructible.

Nick

Machinist:

You are very lucky that your ZW-L has held up. A couple of other posters also indicated that their ZW-L has worked flawlessly. That's great.

In my case, a single train derailment caused the transformer to explode with a startling pop, start smoking, and fail electronically.

Gentlemen,

   You might want to put a 10 Amp breaker between your ZW-L so if you get a surge it can be reset and not harm your ZW-L.  I have them between all my Transformers of different makes and never have a problem.   Just a suggestion.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

   You might want to put a 10 Amp breaker between your ZW-L so if you get a surge it can be reset and not harm your ZW-L.  I have them between all my Transformers of different makes and never have a problem.   Just a suggestion.

PCRR/Dave

Good idea. But, where are you suggesting placement of a 10A breaker? Between the transformer output and the track? If so, what would this protect? Would it protect the train's electronics from a surge that originates from the transformer output? Or, is this breaker intended for an imagined surge originating from the track and going into the transformer?

In additional to the ZW-L's circuit breaker, fold-back protection, and dynamic power limiting, I also had TVS diodes, and 10A fast blow fuses. That still wasn't enough.  In my case, I am just not sure just how much additional coddling would have been sufficient to protect the ZW-L from itself.

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

This is why club layouts use z4000s and not the zwl,  they dont hold up. None of the zw remakes held up. The old zw which isn't that powerful keeps kicking though!! It's not any brands fault it's just electronic devices.  

And very easy to repair (I might add). 

Zw-l hasn't even been out long enough to say it's great and lasts long lol, the z4000 been proven

GREGR, Lionel will pay shipping both ways if you are a veteran. 

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

Zw-l hasn't even been out long enough to say it's great and lasts long lol, the z4000 been proven

Neither of you is wrong, based on your experiences.

I have both a Z4000 and a ZW-L.  Both are solid.   I have not experienced any issue with either.

I've had the Z 4000 for 7 years, and the ZW-L for 4 years.

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

Zw-l hasn't even been out long enough to say it's great and lasts long lol, the z4000 been proven

I think you’ve made your point...