rick486
01-13-2010, 11:40 AM
Some tips I’ve learned for maxing the versatility of the ZW Transformer / Powerhouse “bricks” (6-32930). This may be “old hat” to you veterans, but might be useful to you guys just getting into the electronics of O-gauge railroading.
First the Highlights of what I've learned:
1. You can control 4 isolated blocks of track with the ZW using CAB-1 or Legacy without having to purchase the TMCC Block Power Controller (6-14184; $104) and Command Base Cable (6-14191; $10) to connect it to the Command Base.
2. You can operate the traditional Polar Express Conductor Announcement car (6-36875; $132)) i.e. “All aboard, this is the Polar Express” using a CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held and no other electronic modifications. This will also operate any other "action car" which normally uses the "BELL" button on the transformer.
3. You can operate a traditional (transformer controlled) AND aTMCC controlled train on two separate tracks SIMULTAINUSLY using the CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held controller.
Details on above operations are below:
1. The ZW has 4 rheostat controlled voltage channels labeled: AU; BU; CU and DU. Two (AU & DU) use the outside handles and 2 (BU & CU0 use the inside rings. The instructions for operating 4 separate blocks of track using these 4 channels are fairly (???) well explained in the ZW manual. Basically, you first push the recessed “program” button on the ZW using the plastic "tool" (the RED light on the ZW will now blink), then punch in the first track ID# you wish to use, then press “SET” on the CAB-1 or Legacy. You, of course need to have the Command Base or Legacy Base connected to the “U” terminal of the ZW to program it. The other three track blocks (BU,CU, and DU) then become the next sequentially higher number, i.e. if you press “TR” “1” “SET”, then AU="TR 1", BU= "TR 2", etc.
Next, if your 4 blocks of track are all connected by outside rail but isolated via insulated middle rail, you only need to run one wire from any “U” terminal to the outside rail and run a separate single wire from each of the A, B, C, D terminals to their respective middle rail track blocks.
To turn on the power to each track block then, you address that block via the CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held using it’s ID# (i.e., “TR” “1”) and then turn up the RED knob to bring up the voltage to whatever limit you’ve set using the handles and rings on the ZW. The voltage scales on the ZW unfortunately are not accurate and if desired, you can check the output with a voltmeter. Best advice: if running all TMCC, set the handles and rings to maximum output. If running a traditional (transformer) controlled engines on one of the track blocks, you may want to turn the ring/handle down some on that block to control the top speed of the traditional locomotive for young users.
Now, to control traditional AND TMCC locos on two separate blocks of track, see #3 details below.
2. To operate the Polar Express “announce car” using the hand-held controller, you do NOT need to buy and install special electronic circuit boards from “Electric Trains” as has been suggested. This method will also operate any other traditional “action car” which is normally activated by pressing the “BELL” on the transformer. If the car is on the track block with a traditional (transformer controlled) engine (see also #3 below), then you only need to press the “BELL” button on the hand-held. If the action car is on a TMCC track block running a TMCC engine, to operate the action car you must first turn CAB-1 back to “traditional mode” by addressing the track block: “TR” “1”; “TR” “2”, etc., once you’ve done that, you can activate the announce car or other action car by pressing the "bell" button. The engine bell will also ring if it's "traditional" or NOT ring if it's TMCC. To go back to operating the loco in TMCC, which will continue to operate while you switched the track block to traditional mode, simple re-address the loco with it’s ID#, i.e. “ENG” “4”; “ENG” ”7”, etc. If your Polar Express is totally traditional (i.e., transformer operated), then it will operate as such using the CAB-1 if you wish--see #3 below. However, it must be on a separate block of track than the TMCC engines/trains.
3. To operate both traditional (transformer controlled) engines AND TMCC engines on your layout using the hand-held, first of all, they must be on two separate track blocks as obviously, you cannot control a traditional and a TMCC engine on the same track.
To operate the traditional and TMCC engines on your two separate blocks, you simply address the track: “TR 1”, TR 2”, etc., which the traditional engine/train is on then turn up the RED knob on the hand-held as you would the handle on the transformer to increase the track voltage to operate the engine. The “<>” reverse button will also reverse the traditional loco and the whistle and bell buttons will be functional as well. To go back to the TMCC engine, simply address the engine, “ENG !”, “ENG 5” – whatever its ID# is, and now your hand-held is in TMCC mode for that engine. You can easily toggle back and forth between the two systems (track blocks) by either pressing the engine ID (on ANY block) or the track ID (for the traditional train on that track block). Simple, huh?
NOTE: One helpful hint to keep your traditional engines from blasting off full speed when you turn on the ZW is this. Make your traditional blocks of track AU or DU as these are OFF (zero voltage) when the ZW is turned on. You can then address these blocks by their ID and turn up the voltage using the red knob on the hand-held. Channels BU and CU turn on to full voltage (as set by the inside rings) when the ZW is initially turned on, which is fine for TMCC engines as they won’t move until addressed.
One other hint is, which I ignored initially, you CANNOT have the Command Base AND the ZW plugged into the same power strip -- TMCC will not work for some reason. They must be plugged into individual wall sockets. This is in the instructions as well.
Hope this has been helpful:)
Rich
First the Highlights of what I've learned:
1. You can control 4 isolated blocks of track with the ZW using CAB-1 or Legacy without having to purchase the TMCC Block Power Controller (6-14184; $104) and Command Base Cable (6-14191; $10) to connect it to the Command Base.
2. You can operate the traditional Polar Express Conductor Announcement car (6-36875; $132)) i.e. “All aboard, this is the Polar Express” using a CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held and no other electronic modifications. This will also operate any other "action car" which normally uses the "BELL" button on the transformer.
3. You can operate a traditional (transformer controlled) AND aTMCC controlled train on two separate tracks SIMULTAINUSLY using the CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held controller.
Details on above operations are below:
1. The ZW has 4 rheostat controlled voltage channels labeled: AU; BU; CU and DU. Two (AU & DU) use the outside handles and 2 (BU & CU0 use the inside rings. The instructions for operating 4 separate blocks of track using these 4 channels are fairly (???) well explained in the ZW manual. Basically, you first push the recessed “program” button on the ZW using the plastic "tool" (the RED light on the ZW will now blink), then punch in the first track ID# you wish to use, then press “SET” on the CAB-1 or Legacy. You, of course need to have the Command Base or Legacy Base connected to the “U” terminal of the ZW to program it. The other three track blocks (BU,CU, and DU) then become the next sequentially higher number, i.e. if you press “TR” “1” “SET”, then AU="TR 1", BU= "TR 2", etc.
Next, if your 4 blocks of track are all connected by outside rail but isolated via insulated middle rail, you only need to run one wire from any “U” terminal to the outside rail and run a separate single wire from each of the A, B, C, D terminals to their respective middle rail track blocks.
To turn on the power to each track block then, you address that block via the CAB-1 or Legacy hand-held using it’s ID# (i.e., “TR” “1”) and then turn up the RED knob to bring up the voltage to whatever limit you’ve set using the handles and rings on the ZW. The voltage scales on the ZW unfortunately are not accurate and if desired, you can check the output with a voltmeter. Best advice: if running all TMCC, set the handles and rings to maximum output. If running a traditional (transformer) controlled engines on one of the track blocks, you may want to turn the ring/handle down some on that block to control the top speed of the traditional locomotive for young users.
Now, to control traditional AND TMCC locos on two separate blocks of track, see #3 details below.
2. To operate the Polar Express “announce car” using the hand-held controller, you do NOT need to buy and install special electronic circuit boards from “Electric Trains” as has been suggested. This method will also operate any other traditional “action car” which is normally activated by pressing the “BELL” on the transformer. If the car is on the track block with a traditional (transformer controlled) engine (see also #3 below), then you only need to press the “BELL” button on the hand-held. If the action car is on a TMCC track block running a TMCC engine, to operate the action car you must first turn CAB-1 back to “traditional mode” by addressing the track block: “TR” “1”; “TR” “2”, etc., once you’ve done that, you can activate the announce car or other action car by pressing the "bell" button. The engine bell will also ring if it's "traditional" or NOT ring if it's TMCC. To go back to operating the loco in TMCC, which will continue to operate while you switched the track block to traditional mode, simple re-address the loco with it’s ID#, i.e. “ENG” “4”; “ENG” ”7”, etc. If your Polar Express is totally traditional (i.e., transformer operated), then it will operate as such using the CAB-1 if you wish--see #3 below. However, it must be on a separate block of track than the TMCC engines/trains.
3. To operate both traditional (transformer controlled) engines AND TMCC engines on your layout using the hand-held, first of all, they must be on two separate track blocks as obviously, you cannot control a traditional and a TMCC engine on the same track.
To operate the traditional and TMCC engines on your two separate blocks, you simply address the track: “TR 1”, TR 2”, etc., which the traditional engine/train is on then turn up the RED knob on the hand-held as you would the handle on the transformer to increase the track voltage to operate the engine. The “<>” reverse button will also reverse the traditional loco and the whistle and bell buttons will be functional as well. To go back to the TMCC engine, simply address the engine, “ENG !”, “ENG 5” – whatever its ID# is, and now your hand-held is in TMCC mode for that engine. You can easily toggle back and forth between the two systems (track blocks) by either pressing the engine ID (on ANY block) or the track ID (for the traditional train on that track block). Simple, huh?
NOTE: One helpful hint to keep your traditional engines from blasting off full speed when you turn on the ZW is this. Make your traditional blocks of track AU or DU as these are OFF (zero voltage) when the ZW is turned on. You can then address these blocks by their ID and turn up the voltage using the red knob on the hand-held. Channels BU and CU turn on to full voltage (as set by the inside rings) when the ZW is initially turned on, which is fine for TMCC engines as they won’t move until addressed.
One other hint is, which I ignored initially, you CANNOT have the Command Base AND the ZW plugged into the same power strip -- TMCC will not work for some reason. They must be plugged into individual wall sockets. This is in the instructions as well.
Hope this has been helpful:)
Rich