I’ve been looking over the instruction manual for the PM-1 and components and it says the adapter cable is rated for transformers up to 21 volts. My Z transformer will put out about 26 volts. Is it OK to use it if I dial the power down and don’t exceed 21 volts? Don’t want to burn anything up on the firs day.
STEVE
To me the 26V seem kind of high. Is this a new ZW or an original? Even so the watts through the wire are more critical than the overall voltage. If your lighting a 1 watt light bulb at 26V, no problem, running trains at 200+ watts, possibly a problem.
I’d check the voltage with another meter if available, preferrably digital. If a new ZW put a load on before testing the voltage.
Yes, dialing the power down should work fine-When I use my Powermaster, I generally power it through my Z set to a low voltage, and it works fine.
In any case, I would suggest that rather than setting the transformer to 21 volts, you set it to something along the lines of 18. The Powermaster only has 32 speed steps, and so having a lower voltage going in will mean that each succesive step gives you finer control over the available voltage. Very rarely will you need to put the full 18 volts to the track, anyway.
Roger,
He says that he’s using a Z, and not a ZW. The Z is fully capable of putting out 26 volts when in proper operating condition.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you Ben. Thanks for the info.
STEVE