Perhaps this is common knowledge, maybe not. Our 6x16 platform uses (2) newer ZW's (2006/2007 vintage) on the lower level, and (2) CW80's (2003/2004 vintage) on the upper level. Since the platform is really two mirror-image 6x8 platforms (simple bridges connect the two sides for my twin sons), one ZW and one CW power each side, and are plugged into one multiple outlet each side. Each multiple outlet is plugged into its own outlet on the wall. I was careful to connect the grounds to the outside rails, and the power to the center rail for each transformer, on each level. I have connected all grounds together for all transformers, as Lionel suggests, to allow trains to cross the bridges between sides on both levels. On the lower level, all is well, the ZW's both work as expected, whistle buttons work whistles, etc. But, on the upper level, if I leave the CW80 grounds connected to the outside rails, and power to the center rail, accessories activated by insulated track sections work sluggishly, apparently responding to track power, though train whistles work correctly. If I switch the wires on the back of the CW80's (+ to -, - to +), accessories work correctly at speed set by accessories terminal, but the CW80 bell buttons operates the train whistles. Is it possible that the CW80's, which are older, are internally wired opposite to the ZW's - and would this cause this problem (All transformers have polarized plugs and plug in only one way)? Or am I stuck on my back looking for my wiring mistake? Any help is appreciated.
Early CW-80s had a bizarre wiring that made their use with control rails problematical. The terminals labeled A and B are actually the common terminals and should be connected to the outside rails. You only need to use one of them, since they are connected together internally. The U terminals associated with the A and B are the ones that should be used, one for the track, the other for accessories. Unfortunately, when you do this, the bell and whistle will be swapped. The corrected version has the 4-digit date code preceded by the letter G.
You might look into getting replacements from Lionel, especially since these early models also have a reputation for unreliability. Many have reported that Lionel shipped replacements without even wanting the early model to be returned.
When your trains cross between blocks powered by different transformers, you are connecting those transformers' outputs together. This is a very bad idea for conventional transformers. Whether you will damage something with these newer electronics-intensive phase-control "transformers" I don't know, since their insides are a Lionel secret.
Whether your transformers will be in or out of phase with each other depends on how their power cords are wired and which phase of your house's electrical service feeds each outlet that they are plugged into. If they don't match up, your only recourse is to rewire the plugs. Swapping the wires behind the outlet is unsafe and illegal. Even when they are in phase, their voltage waveforms generally will not match anyway.
Bob Nelson
To add to Bob's advice above, to retain "normal" use if the bell & whistle buttons, just phase your CW's(with "U"'s or "A"'s to the center rail - which ever works right ) to each other and the ZW's, and DON'T use the accessory outputs for anything.
As you are using modern electronic power supplies, you won't have to worry about fault currents or wave form differences between power districts being an overload concern. I would use TVS's to protect the train equipment electronics, though.
Rob
Rob, I do know that the CW-80 uses a 20-volt RMS transformer, with a triac as the pass element for the phase-control output. That means that the voltage waveform from that transformer is directly connected to whatever other source is feeding the track during the part of the half-cycle after the triac is triggered, which can be most of the time. If that other source is another CW-80, there is probably no fault current, since it has (presumably) an identical transformer inside. But he is using his CW-80s with modern "ZW"s; and I don't know whether they have matching transformers.
Perhaps the electronic overcurrent protection in one or the other source will protect them. But I recall reading a number of reports here of a blown fuse inside the CW-80 that is not meant to be replaceable.
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