Diesel Locomotive run on Lionel Fastrack + Cw80 transformer

[hanssimon]

Hi - I was following some posts and hope for some expertise to solve my problem.

I have a 2012 lionel fastrack Sante Fe starter set for my 5 yr.  We went to a model train event and ended up buying a bigger $200+ diesel locomotive engine.  it turns out that my 40W transformer will not run it, so bought CW80 thinking that more power would solve the issue.

Still having problems -- after reading posts, i may have a DC powered locomotive and using a CW80 AC transformer.

Questions: does it matter what direction the locomotive is facing? do i need to buy a DC transformer?

It turns out adding a cool locomotive is not easy as i thought and ready to return both...

Thanks for any feedback you may have!

'Stalled in Colorado'

since i posted, this is a MTH locomotive Sound 1 -- made sure connections were solid and then read documentation.  i originally thought it was stuck in neutral, engine sound but no movement.  Then i read software/chip documentation and it appears to be software issue.  Darn!

i am not ready to tackle chip/software issue…anyone have any thoughts?

Case #2 Proto-Sound 1 locomotive starts up but will not move.

This scenario only occurs in some engines produced in 1995 and 1996. The error occurs as a result of a low or discharged battery and causes the software to "deselect" the locomotive. Users of QSI's more full-featured sound systems may recognize the "selection" feature as the QSI system's ability to give engines an ID number. When given an ID number, each engine can be turned on or off (deselected) so as to respond or not to transformer-related actions. An engine that has been deselected will not turn on even if track power is on. The engine will remain quiet and still during all transformer actions until "reselected" through special whistle and bell commands from the transformer. The feature was a precursor to today's command control operations found in the DCS and TMCC systems. However, QSI's approach was deemed to complicated a procedure by M.T.H. for Proto-Sound 1 locomotives. As a result, M.T.H. asked QSI to eliminate the feature from the software used in Proto-Sound 1 engines. Unfortunately, a bug in the QSI software deselects the locomotive when the battery charge becomes too low resulting in an engine that starts up but fails to leave the Reset position. Users may mistakenly assume that the locomotive is locked in neutral. Replacing the battery and performing the unlock procedure or resetting the engine through Feature 18 will not resolve the problem.

[ADCX Rob]

The CW family of transformers is not on the "approved" list of power supplies that will run a first generation ProtoSounds equipped locomotive without unpredictable results/operation.

Between this and the battery issue, I hope you can get up & running shortly.

[riverrailfan]

The CW-80 will run a Protosound engine if you have a lighted track section or lighted car. A lighted Fastrack terminal section is rare as it only came in the old Thamas the tank RTR set as the Thomas engine would not change direction with out it. The CW-80 voltage never drops low enough for a Protosound engine to operate properly with out it. A 1033 transformer will operate a Protosound engine but you have no bell button.

 

To properly start up a Protosound engine you need to have a fully charged battery. They do fail on these engines and can be replaced with a 9volt battery temporarly. You ramp up the transformer to full voltage till you get full Diesel running sound and back off the transformer till you hear the airbrakes and one clank. Then push the direction button and the engine should move. If the engine restarts after hitting the direction button, the battery is not charged enough. If you get three clanks, your board is scrambled and will need a reset chip. Resetting feature 18 is a pain in the butt and I have done it. Some of the Diesels are easy to get to the battery and some aren't. I have one that is in the speaker compartment under the engine and another I have to remove the body and the screws are hard to get at. 

[ADCX Rob]

riverrailfan

The CW-80 will run a Protosound engine if you have a lighted track section or lighted car. A lighted Fastrack terminal section is rare as it only came in the old Thamas the tank RTR set as the Thomas engine would not change direction with out it. The CW-80 voltage never drops low enough for a Protosound engine to operate properly with out it...

The ProtoSounds engine has a bulb already.  The Thomas set did not, in the loco or the cars.

The problem is not the bulb or lack of, but it's the output waveform of the CW. 

watch?v=OEAyB5bVX8

[riverrailfan]

How I got my Protosound engines to operate on a CW80 was using a fastrack lighted terminal section but yes it is not a recomended transformer.

[M. Mitchell Marmel]

Hans: 

I've managed to run my Proto-2 Electroliner on a CW-80, but it wasn't particularly happy about doing it.  You may want to invest in a Railking Z-500 or Z-750 transformer if you want reliable horn and bell operation. 

Mitch

[TRAINCAT]

A few years ago I tried running my new MTH PS2 f3 engines with a Lionel CW-80 and it was a NO GO . That engine did not run properly with any of the post war Lionel transformers I had either. Ended up having to take the engine to the hobby shop and have a reset done. I bought a MTH Z-1000 while there and solved all my problems.

This ticks someone off every time I say it but the Lionel CW models are good for boat anchors and not much else. Lionel Starter sets only, thats it.

Roger

[M. Mitchell Marmel]

trainrat

This ticks someone off every time I say it but the Lionel CW models are good for boat anchors and not much else. Lionel Starter sets only, thats it.

Well, I DID fix my LW using the power cord from a burned out CW, so they ARE good for SOMETHING... 

Mitch