Lionel ZW Help

[Nick12DMC]

Hi all,

I just had some more time to check over the ZW I bought on ebay for my sons Christmas present. Good news is that its in A1 shape inside all the rollers are mint so it looks like a lightly used example. All the cables look good to.

It works fine apart that the whistle controls don't blow the loco whistles. The loco speeds up and the lights burn brighter. I tried swaping the plug in the socket and the track connections but it does the same.

Anyone have a idea whats wrong?

(I use 60Hz power so its not a frequency/cycle problem)

Nick

 

 

 

       

[willpick]

Nick, I'm pretty sure that the diodes in your ZW are shot. The diode creates the DC offset that triggers the whistle relay in PW tenders or the electronic sound in modern ones. I think that the diodes are available from Lionel parts dealers here in the states, but I don't know the number of the part--  I've read a few articles on replacing the OEM selenium disk diodes with modern heavy duty ones, but don't remember the particular issue they were in. 

Hopefully, you will get some more information from the other posters here.

[lionelsoni]

The original rectifiers were copper oxide, not selenium.  You can replace them with modern silicon rectifiers.  I think a 5-ampere rating is probably okay; 10 amperes would be ample.

[chuck]

You can get external  "sound activation" buttons if you don't want to mess around with the rectifiers at this point in time.

[Fred Bear]

I have a box load of whistle activators, all older Lionel stuff from the 50's probably. Email @ [e-mail]

[Nick12DMC]

Thanks again guys, I'll leave it alone for now as our planned Christmas layout will have one loop controlled by a powermaster (whistle and bell from cab1) and one loop TMCC.

I'll look at getting some replacement parts in the new year.

Many thanks

Nick 

[willpick]

Nick, just a reminder about using your ZW-- you should have fuses in line from the ZW output to the track, as the circuit breaker in the ZW may not be working as well as it used to. 5 amps per output should be enough, as I know you are running modern equipment.

Hope this helps--

[Nick12DMC]

Thanks willpick, I had read elsewhere that I should have a fuse or circuit breaker to protect the modern locos etc. My order from Scotts Odds n Ends arrived today a bank of 4 circuit breakers. I thought this a wise precaution.

 Incidentally Scott emailed me to say that I was his first order from England.

Regards

Nick

 

[Nick12DMC]

Sorted the Whistle problem. Just had a good look at it and checked the copper contacts that are attached to the direction/whistle switch. Gave them a spray of the DeLorean owners best friend....... Electrical contact cleaner, the best antidote for the "Prince of Darkness" AKA Lucas.

 Once given a spray and worked back and forth a few times the whistle is working fine.

Regards

Nick 

 

 

 

 

[tranz4mr]

If you still want to replace the 2 rectifier discs with diodes all electronics has what you need.

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/1N1190AR/205/40_AMP_600_VOLT_RECTIFIER_.html