I have a 3 year-old modern ZW transformer with 2 powerhouses. I hooked it up to the track (only) this morning and was able to get the TMCC engine running okay. Also tested out the CAB-1 to check if switches were running. The switches and ASC’s are powered separately by a postwar ZW. All switches worked okay except one pair because I had forgotten to wire the ground to the ASC.
I then powered down, hooked up the ground wire, powered up and tested the switch, which now worked. Unfortunately, the modern ZW is now providing no power to the track. I tested the A and U terminals and there is no current there either. The green light is on and the red light is off.
I disconnected the ground wire that I had attached but still no response out of the modern ZW. The postwar ZW, to which the ASC’s and switches are attached is functioning properly.
As I recall, when you connect a command base to a new ZW, it goes into “powermaster mode”, and you have to first adress it through the CAB-1 and dial up the power before it will output any. If this were the case, you would need to press TR followed by a number(1-9) and then spin the red wheel until the power came all the way up.
The manual should tell you what numbers it came programmed to from the factory, as well as how to go about reprogramming it.
Ben has it correct. I believe the default out of the box is Tracks 1-4. Here’s another test to see if this is what’s going on:
The handles behave differently in this mode. The outer handles start at 0% relative to where the handles are on power up, while the inner handles start at 100% relative to where the handle is set. (meaning the inners are full power in command mode with you doing nothing with the remote, whereas the outers will seem “dead” if you don’t address them first).
Therefore, you can hook up one of the inner handles, crank it up a bit and check to see if it’s putting out voltage. If so, I think we have your answer.
I just hooked one up and the intsructions said that the transformer and the cab -1 command base should not be powered up together.The cab-1 should be powered up first as it sends the signal to activate the transformer.If you are using a power strip this could be your problem
BEN is right on the pushing TR then 1,2,3,or 4spinning the red knob till you get power. Thats how I do it. Works with conventional engines this way too.
Like Marty, I too have always had my Command base and new ZW plugged into the same power strip with no issue. I tried plugging the Command base directly into it’s own wall outlet to see if that improved my TMCC remote range but it made no improvement. Mike
I used to have them plugged in the same power strip and never had a problem. Then once, not long ago, I turned it on and got no response from the Cab1. It could happen and I believe that’s why Lionel recommends plugging it into a different strip or outlet. I keep the command base plugged into the wall outlet and then just flip on the power strip.