Three main loops and I'm using a ZWC for track power with 3-135s, one for each loop each having its own channel. The loops are isolated but connected with interlocking switches.
I'm considering adding a New ZW with two 180s and have a few questions. I want to free up one channel of the ZWC to use for fixed accessory lighting, and substitute for track power one of the New ZW handles powered by a 180 PH.
Can I run both the two ZW units from one Command Base, and if so how?
Can I run track power with 2-135s from the ZWC on two of the loops and a 180 from the other unit on the third loop? In other words, does the mix of 135 and 180 work OK or not, and if not, why?
Interesting question. I have both power houses and 2 ZW's. Since you have a poserhouse connected to its input, the output to the track is only going to get what is being put into it. You can connect the common terminals of each ZW and the Command signal will be output to each circuit...
I know the PH can hear direct form the Cab-1 on the independent units. I think the same is true with the new ZW's. Just run a wire from the U port of the Command Base to the outside rail.
I've had a chance to think this through a little more -
As far as the Command Base goes, I believe it just addresses or talks to the engines not the ZW or PH units. As long as the signal gets to the track the engines I hope will know what to do with it regardless whether the track is on a 135 or 180 brick. And the signal will get to all loops because it goes through the commons off at least one Controller, the one the CB wire is connected to - if that makes sense.
That implies the CB wire doesn't have to be connected to the other Controller. Does that sound right or wrong?
As far as 135 vs 180, for TMCC it's supposed to be 18 VAC on both units with the handles wide open, which is roughly 7.5 amps on the ZWC and 10 amps on the New ZW.
I just don't know if that's a problem as an engine crosses from the 135 loop to the 180 or what that does to engine electronics.
But that's about as far as my thinking takes me on it. More opinions are welcome.
Hi Ginsaw, I run both on my layout with no problems at all. It's the amperage difference that could become an issue. If you have a consist pulling 8 amps then when it goes into the 135 power house it could trip. Most of todays trains do not pull anywhere near 8 amps. Regards Romiller
Thanks romiller49 - that's the kind of information I was seeking. I'm not sure if the 135 PH breaker would trip, but the 7.5 fuse would certainly blow. So that's something to consider. And I wonder how engine electronics would react.
Another thing - the 3 loops are isolated in that the center "hot" rails are separated at the interlocking switches, but the outside rails remain connected everywhere. So there is one common return path, which leads back to both the ZWC and the New ZW. And the ZWC was engineered for 135, not 180. Would it be the same concern as with the amps? Does anyone see any potential problems there?
And is there any good reason for connecting the commons on the ZWC to one of the commons on the New ZW?
BTW, I know phasing has to be checked on the two units.
Ginsaw, always remember, only one command base needed per layout. Thats why I always like to have all the commons connected. You will always be subject to whatever amperage rating is on the power house or power master. Keep in mind that the old ZW's had circuit breakers to protect the transformer so an auxillary fuse to the track would help the electronics or you could just run the old ZW through a power master. Regards Romiller
Thx again. The old ZW or PW ZW is not what I have. I have a version of the New ZW that has 135 watt PowerHouses or "bricks". Power Masters are not used with it. Hope that's not confusing anyone.
I have also heard somewhere about mixing the 135 and 180. I think it maybe was that you couldn't use the 180 with the ZWC unit (which originally was going to have 190 PHs, but they were never built up in that configuration). I also think the 135 and 180 bricks are not interchangeable. I don't have both so hard to tell. But the plugs on the wires of each maybe are made to prevent installing in only but the unit that was intended.
I just want to be sure I know what I'm doing before connecting up one channel of the New ZW 180 brick to a loop, when two other loops are running off 135 bricks via the ZWC unit.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ginsaw,
All commons can be connected as far as I know. The one case where they cannot is if the PWC ZW is out of phase. I think some of the very first ones where sent out this way. Plug in both ZW's , turn on power on both and turn up throttles. Take a light bulb with wire leads and touch the common terminal from the PWC ZW with throttle up to one of the commons of the other ZW with throttle turned up. If the light bulb lights the PWC ZW is probaly out of phase and needs to be fixed first. If it does not you should be all right.
You should not parallel-wire 135 and 180 watt bricks by splicing their output leads together, but that is not what you are doing. The ZW controllers control each brick separately. Aside from the difference in maximum currents available, you should not have any problems.
You can program the ZWs to different TR channels. See page 12 of the ZW manual. You might want to set one ZW for 1-4, and the other for 5-8.
