Modern Lionel ZW

[apiegare]

My ZW will ocassionally and suddenly lose power on all 4 channels for two seconds then power comes back on as if the halt command was sent, no TMCC is connected and no lights blink, is this a common problem? Has anyone else seen this?

[EIS2]

I have a modern ZW and have never had that issue.  If you have an ammeter, check the amps on each channel.  It sounds like you have a circuit breaker re-cycling.  

Earl

[Ole Timer]

Yep .... sounds like a short possibly is tripping the breaker .... or she's getting way too warm/hot for some reason

[laz 57]

I have 2 of the modern ZWs they work great.  I had one that the board was bad a blew out but Lionel fixed it free. Better take it to a Lionel service station to get it checked out. 

laz57

[apiegare]

This was one of those with the bad board but has since been replaced by Lionel, When it happens all 4 channels suddenly lose power then snap back on about a second and a half later, no breakers trip on any of the 4 bricks, the green light stays on, havent noticed if the red light blinks though, my house lights stay on so it's not house power and the 2 other transformers I have plugged into the power strip stay on so it's not that, I suspect my Iphone is causing RF interference with the TMCC circuit in the ZW as it seems to happen when I am standing near the ZW with the phone in my pocket, I am continuing to test different theories, if nothing helps it's back to Lionel before the warranty runs out, Thanks!

[EIS2]

The ZW has internal self-resetting circuit breakers in addition to the manual reset circuit breakers on the bricks.  Page 8 in the ZW manual describes the internal circuit breaker operation.

Earl

[apiegare]

This is happening simultaneously on all 4 channels and the power is snapping back on sooner than 6 seconds,  Another reason I suspect RF interference is when I temporarily hooked up my TMCC base to reprogram the ZW, I had to use the CAB-1 to reset all 4 channels when it occurred. I am only running 1 train each on A and D, powering 3 switches on channel B, and about 8 lamps and 1 accesory on channel C, this should not be enough to overload all 4 bricks at once.  I believe the ZW board is somehow receiving the halt command and then realizing that no TMCC base is present it quckly resumes operation, but I could be wrong! Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried disconnecting the Command Base and just running the trains in Conventional Mode?

I would try that, and if it still does this then you have eliminated the Command Base as being the culprit. If the ZW does this with no Command Base, then you should take the ZW in for service. If the Command Base is the issue then I think you'll need a new Command Base.

[apiegare]

I am running in conventional mode with no command base when this occurs, I does not happen when I leave my Iphone upstairs, I believe it is interfering with the ZW, More experiments are needed before I reach my final conclusion, Thanks - electronics are funny, aren't they?

[Ole Timer]

 TURN OFF the Iphone when you're running the trains .... ....   ... you keep posting it only happens with it on or near .

[phillyreading]

Another thing to turn off around new electronics is a wireless device, wireless router or mouse, from your computor.

Lee F.

[apiegare]

My point exactly, Ole-Timer, the only thing is I tried it again last night with the Iphone on top of the ZW and nothing happened, it ran perfectly. Lee - my router is way upstairs on the second floor of the house and the ZW is down in the basement but I do get wireless down there, I even disconnected the internal antennae on the ZW do you think it still might affect it? - The experiments continue...

[phillyreading]

I don't know about the new ZW's antenna but other things around the house or from your car or truck could affect your ZW's performance. Are you near a Ham Radio operator or CB(two way radio) radio? Do you have a turnpike toll transponder, (Easy Pass, Sun Pass, E-Pass or I-Pass, they emit a very small radio signal) it automatically pays the toll on the turnpike when you go through?

Lee F.

[apiegare]

Well it hasn't happened for two weeks now so I am beginning to think it was an overload situation on channel one that cascaded down the other channels. I am about 5 miles from the Interstate, maybe an illegal CB trucker was passing thru the area. Still should not affect it without a TMCC base connected and the internal antenna disconnected. I also have an I-pass upstairs, don't keep it in the car. I switched the bricks around to put a newer brick on channel 1, the master channel. I also got a better surge protector for it, it's real nice it clamps on to the underside of the layout. Thanks everyone for your help and advice and happy railroading!