transformers,and your rating on them

[chad tm5000/trainstation]

hi everyone

tax time is here and my cw transformers are i think done cause of my t1 q. for anyone that can answer.

on a scale of 1-10 lionel zw or mth z 1000 why you ask is that im buying 2 for the price of one they are bandy new. i need it for the t-1 duplex 4444 so please feel free your appion on both i need rattings thanks chad noel from the trainstation/home

[ADCX Rob]

chad tm5000/trainstation

hi everyone  tax time is here and my cw transformers are i think done cause of my t1 q. for anyone that can answer. 

on a scale of 1-10 lionel zw or mth z 1000 why you ask is that im buying 2 for the price of one they are bandy new. i need it for the t-1 duplex 4444 so please feel free your appion on both i need rattings thanks chad noel from the trainstation/home

Those  two transformers are  VERY different.

For PS MTH locos, the MTH Z-4000 is much better than the Z-1000.  

A ZW, unless it is a recent(modern era) does not have bell controls.

[11th Street]

You should also be thinking long term equity and your own longer term hobby growth. Because s**t  happens on every layout: Z4000 for all its fast acting circuit breakers and safety features. If anything goes wrong with the unit Mike insists it goes back to Maryland for repair.

For the simple stuff: a completely reconditioned & inspected PW ZW.

 

[Seayakbill]

I you are primarily running modern locomotives with electronics use a modern transformer, the bigger the better. My layout which is 22 x 22 I use a MTH DCS TIU powered by 4 Lionel 135 watt bricks. With this set-up I can run MTH PS-2 locos, Lionel TMCC locos and modern or Postwar conventional locos.

[phillyreading]

The MTH Z-1000 has enough power to run three dual motored Williams SD-45's at one time, and a lighted caboose, with a long string of freight cars with no problem. Plus at train shows you can buy the used Z-1000's for under $60.00.

The CW-80, you have to be careful because there was three runs of the CW-80 and the first run had most of the problems. Unless you know a lot about the CW-80 and date codes you may buy a lemon!

The older, post war, ZW's have a lot of power and can be purchased for a low price, however they lack proper circuit protection for use with newer trains. The post war ZW has the one circuit breaker on the common side of the transformer and it will fry a circuit board very quick before it tries to protect one, but at the time it was made we didn't have high tech electronics.

MTH's Z-4000 has kept me away because of price. It may be a good transformer but I want four train control for the price and not accessory power.

There are other transformers made like the MRC or Model rectifier Corp products. Another nice transformer is the one by Troller Corp. the TAC 2001, a 150 watt transformer that has two sets of voltage outputs for use with trains like Williams.

Lee F.