i perchaced a t1 duplex and it was running a ok and now i blew out not 1 but 2 cw 80 watt transformers can someone help with this i fallowed everything and it even said it ran on conventional mode ok i did that and now im screwed. i need help and i contacted lionel just now so please help thanks
The T1 is a bit big for a CW-80, but should do in a pinch. How do you know the CW's are "blownout"? What actually happened?
Rob
what happen was i plug the transformer in like always and then raised the power slow then the green lite went out completely no power on both
Are you pulling lighted passenger cars with your T1? Trying to run with the smoke on? That is probably too much for a CW80. You should be able to manually switch these items off with the switches hidden somewhere on the locomotive and cars.
I have the Texas Special Legacy set Lionel was selling a couple of years ago. With the CW80, I could run the train and have the lights on in the cars, but no smoke - or I could run the train and have smoke, but no lights in the cars. Same symptoms as you are seeing - throttle up, maybe the train starts to move, then green light went out & everything went dead. Am now running it with a Legacy system and a 180 watt powerhouse.
Good luck.
that meens i have to replace the transformers or can i repair them myself is there a fuse in them or do i ship them
chad tm5000/trainstation that meens i have to replace the transformers or can i repair them myself is there a fuse in them or do i ship them
There is a fuse inside. It is about the only user-serviceable part, but Lionel never intended for it to be accessible, so you must first get the triangle security screws out before you can get to it. It is a 7 amp fuse, that should not have blown, as the CW is electronically limited to 5 amps.
The CW-80 was never a good transformer except for use in the cheap starter sets. Lionel had a replacement deal for those but I do not know if it still applies. What you need if on a budget, is a Z-1000 by MTH. They can be had new for around 76.00, or used for 50.00. They will handle about anything you throw at them.
Roger
trainrat The CW-80 was never a good transformer except for use in the cheap starter sets. Lionel had a replacement deal for those but I do not know if it still applies. What you need if on a budget, is a Z-1000 by MTH. They can be had new for around 76.00, or used for 50.00. They will handle about anything you throw at them. Roger
A bit misleading. The CW-80 replacement was for CW-80s that were manufactured with a factory defect where the A and U posts were reversed. When properly wired to the track the bell button would activate the horn/whistle and the horn/whistle button would activate the bell.The replacement was not to send a CW-80 in for another transformer. Just replacing the bad CW-80s for new CW-80s. I forget how you could tell, but it was on the bottom of the transformer and an Character would follow the model number I think...I don't know if Lionel will replace a CW-80 that you damaged by overloading it... that to me would fall under 'user error'.If you have a smaller engine, like a starter set engine, you can test the CW-80s to see if they are indeed fried. I would unplug them, leave them unplugged for 1 minute, then try them. I think there is an internal reset as well.
I had one of the first CW-80 transformers that went haywire when it was first released. I called Lionel, they told me to cut off the cord, throw it in the trash and a new one would be sent to me the next day. That was a few years ago, I just use the CW-80 for what it was intended for, small starter sets..
Bill T.
We have disagreed on this before, I have had better luck myself with the CW-80, than the Z-1000. The CW-80 DOES have better slow speed control , I went and compared two of my unused Z-1000 transformers to a couple of Cw-80s same track, wires and locomotives, JUST changed the transformers, the CW-80 HAS SUPERIOR low speed performance. The CW-80 also has an infinitely adjustable accessory post, the Z-1000 only has a fixed voltage connection.
I personally prefer an all in one transformer as opposed to having a seperate power brick, which seems unneccesary on such a low wattage transformer to me. As far aesthetics are concerned in MY Opinion, there is no comparison, the CW styling is reminiscent of post-war transformers, the Z-controller looks like something out of a cheap HO set.
The Z-1000 IS rated 20 watts more, wether that would be noticable depends on just how close you are to the transformers capacity, and just how accurate the actual rating is for either. I have run dual motored LionMaster Big Boys, Challengers and Cab-forwards without any trouble with the CW-80.
I personally prefer the CW-80 over the Z-1000, and I have more than one of each so I HAVE compared them side by side. The CW-80 is a Fine transformer, used within it's intended purposes. The CW-80 is not up to, nor was ever intended to be the sole power source for a basement filling empire, but then neither is the Z-1000.
Those are MY EXPERIENCES and Opinions, having used easily more than a dozen CWs personally, and as gifts, as well as at least half a dozen Z-1000s too, a LOT of experience with both, and to ME it is clear which is better. Others may have different experiences and Opinions, but those are mine.
YMMV,
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
quote: "I personally prefer the CW-80 over the Z-1000, and I have more than one of each so I HAVE compared them side by side. The CW-80 is a Fine transformer, used within it's intended purposes. The CW-80 is not up to, nor was ever intended to be the sole power source for a basement filling empire, but then neither is the Z-1000."
You think YOU are the ONLY guy who compared them? As you said, the CW80 IF used for its "intended purposes"- STARTER SETS, it is ok. It will NOT handle loads like big engines and lighted passenger cars together. My new model CW80 would not run an old 2036 Lionel steamer without the green light flashing. You also did NOT mention the irritating part about the built in delays in the throttles and horn/direction buttons. You also did not mention that a CW WILL NOT play nice with ANY MTH engine. I have 8 different transformers here that I use and the CW80 has been cast aside for accessory lighting duties.
You could not GIVE me another CW80, even for free. And that is MY opinion and experience.
I have two Z-1000's and have no problem with low speed operation, even with Williams. The Z-1000 can handle three powered Williams SD-45's and a couple of lighted cars.
I have tried the CW-80 (even the newer ones)with some of my trains and it just don't work! The CW-80(aka can't work) will not work properly with my Williams engines with True Blast 2 installed. The CW-80 is intended for low end or starter sets from Lionel only.
Lee F.
To say that the CW-80 will not play nicely with ANY MTH engine, is a Load of Horse manure. SOME PS2 locomotives have whistle issues, and the proto-couplers don't work, but I don't have any trouble running PS1, even the couplers work fine for me. I ran a PS2 0-6-0 for many hours on my Halloween layout, powered by a CW, and not even a single random whistle toot, nope the proto-couplers didn't function, but then in that use, I didn't need them to, so it was a non-issue that I knew about in advance.
As far as the CW and Williams locomotives, the only Williams locomotives that I have had, did not run well on ANY transformer that I have, wether it was the Z-1000, CW, RW, post-war ZW, New ZW. I was not impressed with the way they ran or looked, and sold them at a swap meet a couple of weeks ago. The Williams couplers wouldn't even stay closed with as few as four cars behind them, no matter how I tinkered with them.
If you know of somone giving CW's away, please let me know, I can find homes/uses for half a dozen easily.
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