Hi, my name is Ralph, I psoted this on model railroader and got a good suggestion to post it here for better response. I am looking for some advice or pros and cons of either transformer. My layout out will be about 12’x28’. Also I will be using Atlas O track and I have alot of big engines which are mostly MTH. Plus I am planing tu run the MTH DCS. I have heard some good and bad things about both. I am just looking for a little more info from people that are currently using either transformer. So any advice or experience with either will greatly be appreciated, becasue I am just having hard time trying to decide which to use.
If you’re going to run DCS and mostly MTH engines with proto2, I would go with the z4000 since it’s a MTH product as well.
I run mostly postwar and non TMCC engines, although I do own one TMCC engine. For me the new ZW was the way to go. It has great flexibilitly with power and runs conventional via remote very well.
I’m pretty sure you would have no problems running DCS with the new Zw but I hopefully someone will chime in. I know the new zw is chopped sinewave and z4000 is not. I don’t know how this affects PS2 and again hopefully someone will chime in.
If you are running primarily PS-2 locomotives and will be using DCS, neither. You can use PowerHouse bricks to feed the DCS TIU. Bricks are a lot cheaper than transformers.
A postwar ZW can handle up to 720 watts of power, a Z-4000 can output a max 360 watts (to the track). Z-4000 has easy programming support for PS-1 loco’s.
I use the Z-4000 and have had no problems with it with both TMCC and DCS locos as well as conventional locos. If you are going to run ANY conventional locos in the future, you are going to need a some kind of conventional throttle and not just a power block. Just something to think about [;)]
As far as pros and cons…I really can’t think of any for either one. It’s more personal preference than anything else.
“If you are going to run ANY conventional locos in the future”
A TIU has two variable output channels. You can control conventional loco’s with the TIU and the DCS remote. If you want a conventional throttle you will need a ZW or a Z-4000. If you own mostly command equipped loco’s, the need for a conventional throttle diminishes greatly.
A modern ZW will allow you to control the output to the track remotely, up to four seperate blocks. You can also buy a remote commander for a Z-4000 for remote throttle control (independant of DCS).
Z-4000 is a nice transformer with a lot of nice features, so is a ZW. Z-4000 has an amp and volt meter built in and has macro button’s to support conventional programming of PS-1 and PS-2 loco’s. It’s physically large and only has two variable tap outputs. Z-4000 requires a Remote Commander set to support remote throttle without DCS. New ZW can handle four variable taps and 180 watts out of each one. You need a CAB-1 and Command Base to do remote throttle operation. If you are running predominantly in a command mode, both are overkill. They go for around $360-$380. PowerHouse bricks go for around $80 each and each one will provide 180 watts of power. If you already have a DCS Remote and TIU, I’d look real hard at using bricks to supply raw power.
Your reasoning is articulate and solid. However…there are some of us who still like using a throttle handle to control conventional engines. I too, have been debating whether to go with the MTH or Lionel transformer. I like that the MTH has a built in voltage/amperage readout. I also like the looks of the Lionel ZW. I have to make a decision soon…
Thanks for all the responses, It’s a real help to hear these things from other people. One more question, Who makes the powerhouse blocks? Thanks for all the input, Ralph
Ralph, I’m in the same situation as you. I use Atlas O track, my engines are mostly MTH,and I had to decide which transformer to buy. I got the Z4000 instead of the new ZW mainly because i have some PS1 engines, and i can program the PS1 engines with the Z4000. If you are going to run more than 2 loops, i suggest that you buy 2 of the 180 watt Lionel powerhouse transformers and use them to help power the the TIU(variable channels). Also, the Z4000 has 2 accessory outputs-(14V & 10V) that can run most accessories, as long as you don’t exceed 3 amps draw.
I have one Lionel train running strickly in conventional on a inner layout and 5 MTH PS2 running on a DCS. The layout is powered by a new ZW with two 180 watt bricks. The only issue I had was that with all the accessory buildings and two set of 6 car passenger cars and 3 PS2 engines and the conventional engine running at the same time the transformer would shut down completely. Obviously pulling way too many amps. So I took all the building accessories off the ZW and run them through a stanalone MTH brick. No more problems although the lights cannot be adjusted for brightness this way.
I have the new ZW and I had the same question you do. I finally made my decision base on the fact I also had an old ZW and bought the new one just so they would look alike on my layout. I wish I would have bought the Z4000. that is the way I would go if I could do it over.
I would go with the Z-4000, if you can find one. I have been havin a tough time finding one in my area. I hope to find one somewhere soon. The perfect transformer to run my PS1 and 2 engines and they cant be found anywhere lol.
“youed think lionel could fit the transformer in the zw”
Z-4000’s foot print is about twice that of a ZW. This has been my biggest issue with the 4000, physical size. It eats up a lot of real estate, especialy when you factor in you only get 360 watts track power and two varaible taps.