Trains.com

MTH controler and Lionel ZW

1328 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, January 11, 2015 8:02 PM
That would be a good question for Barry Broskowitz.

Rob

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Rolesville, NC
  • 15,416 posts
Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, January 10, 2015 11:59 PM

Rob, I have one for you.  Don Baker and I have discussed this.  Version 7 TIU purchased a year ago [replaced one from around 2000] that had been up graded over an over].  Occassionally blows the 20 AMP internal fuse.  Order of power. 

4 Post War ZW's with auto reset 15 AMP breaker [automotive type] powering each channel of TIU.

Fast blowing 15 AMP fuses for each channel.

TIU with all four channels set on fixed [one for each track section].  It has internal 20 AMP fuse for each channel.

TVS for for all four channels.

15 AMP Fast acting breakers for each tracks.

In the TIU, looking from the power going end of the TIU, the third from the right 20 AMP fuses blows occassionally.

To complicate this situation, I have a wiring setup so I can "bridge" the two track sections together and feed power from the far left channel.  Never blows that fuse.  Thing is, it is feeding the same TVS and fast acting breaker as before.  Seems something internal is allowing that one channel fuse to blow early.   

Give us a solution.  Thanks

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Saturday, January 10, 2015 5:45 PM

dbaker48
The old ZW will provide the voltage, BUT it does NOT have the voltage and current protection that you should have for you MTH system, (I am assuming you are referring to the MTH TIU.)  Unless you add the correct safe guards you can have a high risk of "zapping" the MTH system or MTH engine electronics with a simple derailment.

The TIU does, in fact, have fuse protection and TVS protection. The ZW will work fine, just confirm proper operation of the circuit breaker.

Rob

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
  • 3,784 posts
Posted by dbaker48 on Saturday, January 10, 2015 2:16 PM

Which ZW do you have?  The post war version or the new one which has "bricks" attached to it?

The old ZW will provide the voltage, BUT it does NOT have the voltage and current protection that you should have for you MTH system, (I am assuming you are referring to the MTH TIU.)  Unless you add the correct safe guards you can have a high risk of "zapping" the MTH system or MTH engine electronics with a simple derailment.

 

Don

wfa
  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 38 posts
Posted by wfa on Saturday, January 10, 2015 1:28 PM

thanks

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 21, 2014 2:56 PM
Yes.

Rob

wfa
  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 38 posts
MTH controler and Lionel ZW
Posted by wfa on Sunday, December 21, 2014 11:20 AM

Can someone tell me if I can use a lionel ZW to power a Mth controller and get the same results as using an MTH brick?

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month