MTH Z1000 and a PW Type Z

[Anonymous]

Can I hook the MTH z-1000 to a common ground with the z transfomer?
I want to use the Z to power lights, track switches and accessories, and use
the Z-1000 to run the train. All I have are Postwar and modern convenal engines. and a bunch of PW 031 switches....

[csxt30]

Hope this will be helpful.
http://www.martye.com/TipsandTricks/TipsandTrick2.htm

[Anonymous]

Good link John---properly phasing transformers has been a very frequent and repetitive question on the Forum over the years.

[Anonymous]

I knew about the phasing of the two transformers, but a great site.
I'm just wondering will the two be compatible together?
i tried using my cw80 (?) that came with my P.E. set lastyear, but it
gave me all kinds of trouble trying to get the varriable voltage to
work with my common ground, something about a digital a/c sine wave
and an analog wave sine???? I dont want to buy another transformer
and end up in the same place.

[willpick]

The reason you had trouble with the CW80 is due to the fact that the A & B posts are "common" and "U" is the variable on the CW80. The Z, as far as I know is the opposite. You should have no problem phasing the Z1000 and your venerable Z--

[Anonymous]

doing some more looking around, I came across one of the lionels
6-12938 PowerStation-PowerHouse Sets. Are these anygood, I havent seen
a whole lot about them, Or would I be better using the MTH z1000?

[lionelsoni]

May I point out that "PW" could stand for "prewar" or "postwar"? It does work for the Z, however, which was make in both periods.

[fwright]

CW-80 cannot be phased because it is not a traditional transformer - it is an electronic control system.

I am assuming the Z100 (I'm not personally familiar with it) is a sine wave transformer, in which case it can be phased with the Z.

A word of caution - phasing does not solve all problems electrical with multiple transformers and trains. It is much better to use the traditional cab/block control system of DC wiring to set up where a given transformer runs a given train where ever it goes. The tinplate section control system where a specific transformer controls any train in the particular track section brings out the worst of phasing every time a train crosses section boundaries. When the roller assemblies bridge the section gap there is an uncontrolled and unprotected (no circuit breaker) current flow set by the difference in the 2 transformer voltages. Phasing simply helps keep this voltage difference at a minimum. Over time, this unprotected current has been thought to damage transformer windings (and may cause problems with roller assemblies as well due to excess current flow). You see this current when you are testing your phasing by looking at the size of the spark.

yours in transforming
Fred Wright

[lionelsoni]

Amen, Fred.

For those who might want to know how to do the block system that Fred alludes to, it is actually pretty simple: For two transformer controls, use a single-pole-double-throw (electrical) switch for each block. Connect the center rail of the block to the pole of the switch and each of the two other terminals to the transformer outputs. Connect the common of the transformer to the outside rails, which should all be connected together.

Many like to put the switches on a panel that has a simplified map of the layout. If you use center-off switches, you can park a train in a block and free up its transformer output to run another train somewhere else. For more than two transformer outputs, you can use a multiple-position rotary switch or multiple toggle switches. Two toggle switches per block can handle four transformer outputs: The pole of an SPDT goes to the center rail as before; but the other two terminals of the SPDT go to the two poles of a DPDT. The four other terminals of the DPDT go to the transformer outputs. Then each of the four possible positions of the two switches selects a different control.

Four trains are a lot, but it is not too hard to allow even for eight, using an SPDT and two 3PDT switches, if you think you can keep track of that many trains.

[Anonymous]

Atlas makes a gang-able SPDT with 3 or 4 switches per unit. I used the 4 switch unit ganged 3 times to control 10 separate blocks on my old layout. The terminals are meant for about 20 gauge wire, but I have attached lamp cord after tinning the strands.
The SPDT's accept 2 input wires on one side, opposite side has 2 spade lugs for ganging to another SPDT unit. A third side has four outputs, one for each switch on the unit. Each output should be connected to a separate block. With 3 units ganged you can select power for up to 12 separate blocks.
If you want to add 2 more inputs for 4 train control, run another set of ganged SPDT's with the additional inputs. Match the switches so that switch one of the first gang and switch one of the second gang both go to the same block.
Now that I run alone, I've blocked the new layout into 3 sections. Only one has common track which I control with an SPDT. The yard and the mainline go direct to the xformer.