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Confusion: PowerMax vs CW-80

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Confusion: PowerMax vs CW-80
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 4, 2007 12:01 PM

In the discussions about transformers, I'm a little confused.  Can't find a powermax xformer on Lionel's site, but a manual I found of one online looks exactly like a CW-80. Are they the same thing or am I missing something?  Some clarity appreciated.

 

Dan 

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Posted by lionelsoni on Sunday, March 4, 2007 12:10 PM

The Powermax seems to be a stripped-down CW80.  In particular, it lacks the accessory output, thus sidestepping the common-terminal problem of the CW80.  Do I recall correctly that it also lacks the fan?

Here is a forum topic about it:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/967868/ShowPost.aspx

 

Bob Nelson

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Posted by njalb1 on Sunday, March 4, 2007 12:44 PM

About half the power of CW-80 and no fan.Less Assesory posts.  Basic starter set transformer IMO. I had one fail out of the box and was replaced by Lionel with a CW-80 Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by Joe Hohmann on Sunday, March 4, 2007 4:17 PM

Seems odd they didn't call it a "CW40".  PowerMax seems like something that should have 300+ watts. It's a shame so many CW80's had problems. I was lucky...the first 2 I bought were problem free, and they are still in use powering 2 loops of TMCC operation on my small layout. Bought 3 more since then, for $35-$40. each ( for my 2 Christmas layouts and Grandson's carpet layout), and they, also, are working fine.

They DO need a lighted car on the track for a conventional reversing unit to work, and some people don't like the "power ramp-up" feature (although it may save some traction tires from flying off due to jack-rabbit starts). I like the handle control better than the ones on my KW. But, to each, their own. Joe

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, March 4, 2007 5:52 PM
 Joe Hohmann wrote:

Seems odd they didn't call it a "CW40".  PowerMax seems like something that should have 300+ watts....

Or a CW-30 - it's rated output is 30 watts,  less than half due to the lack of a fan to dissipate heat off the 1 triac(as opposed to the fan cooled two triacs in the CW-80).

Rob 

Rob

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