(DIR) Return Create A Forum - Home --------------------------------------------------------- Lionel Trains (HTM) https://lioneltrains.createaforum.com --------------------------------------------------------- ***************************************************** (DIR) Return to: Lionel Maintenance & Repair ***************************************************** #Post#: 1688-------------------------------------------------- 275 watt zw problem By: 70gtvert Date: November 20, 2017, 8:45 am --------------------------------------------------------- picked up a zw needing some work, the common strip and the abcd strip all needed their contacts resoldered. Once done, all controls functioned as per the instruction, well, all but 1. I now this was touched on, but I'm going a little more in depth here. The red light does not go on when I deliberately short it. In fact the contacts on the circuit breaker stay connected. If I have this down correctly, the strip of spring steel they are on should, when hot, pop the points open breaking the circuit and triggering the light. They stay closed. I've ordered a modern solid state circuit breaker to replace it with but here is part 2 of the issue. When it is shorting and I manual open the contacts the red light still does not come on. Yes, the bulb is good. I've reviewed the schematics and don't see any wiring that is not were it is supposed to be nor breaks in the wiring so I doubt anyone has worked on it prior to me. I've even gotten the bulb to come on but not in a short situation. I did so by making the base contact slide over and touch the mount the bulb is supported on. When I do that it ties the bulb into the accessory dial and as you turn up the voltage to the accessory dial it will burn out the light. Got to be some electrical gurus out there somewhere. #Post#: 1689-------------------------------------------------- Re: 275 watt zw problem By: TrainLarry Date: November 20, 2017, 1:10 pm --------------------------------------------------------- Double check all the wiring. (HTM) http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/transfmr%5Cpszw2.pdf (HTM) http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/transfmr%5Cpszw2.pdf If properly wired, the red pilot light will come on when the breaker trips. There is no way it cannot come on. Larry #Post#: 1693-------------------------------------------------- Re: 275 watt zw problem By: 70gtvert Date: November 21, 2017, 9:16 am --------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for this schematic. The color callouts help. The other one didn't note it that way and was harder to follow the routing. I already found one wire not correctly routed but it was built that way as the place it was supposed to be hooked up to shows it never had any solder on it ever. I'm going to try to re-rout that line and see what, if anything, it does, after I follow through tracing down the other lines. #Post#: 1696-------------------------------------------------- Re: 275 watt zw problem By: 70gtvert Date: November 21, 2017, 1:29 pm --------------------------------------------------------- Found my problem. It was not the wiring but in a worn out resister wire. Found a workaround for it here: (HTM) http://www.agtta.com/Tech-Tips/Tech-tip-ZW-repairs3.pdf on page 3. Tried it, it works. Still going to replace the vintage circuit breaker with the modern one. Hope this helps anyone else with a similar ZW problem. *****************************************************