transformer or engine problem?

[davidam]

i am experincing a problem with a lionel 626 hudson jr. when i purchased the engine i also bought a cw80 transformer so the whistle & the bell would work. at first every thing worked now the engine will not operate with the cw80 but runs fine with a kw transformer. conversly the cw will run all my older lionels just fine. the 626 & cw are 2003 vintage my kw's and other engines are 50's, 60's & 70's. don't know much about the new electronics, so i'm looking for some help.

[Kooljock1]

 Try reversing the CW-80's transformers wires to the track.  If that doesn't work, and there's no "G" in the date code on the bottom, contact Lionel Service and ask for a replacement.  The new transformers have been corrected for phase.

 Jon 

[lionelsoni]

Swapping the wires will just swap the whistle and bell functions.  The problem that was corrected was that the wrong terminals were made common.  (I don't know what "corrected for phase" would mean.)

[davidam]

thanks jon. the first thing i tried was to switch the wires. please elaborate on the code. i longer have a receipt will lionel still replace it?      dave                                           

[davidam]

i am assuming that both you & jon believe it's the transformer.  thanks dave

[dougdagrump]

Welcome Dave.

When you try to power-up with the CW-80 what does the engine do ?

Any lights come on, whistle/bell operate ?

If you get light/sound operation are you using the direction button to initiate movement ?

If you are using the direction button and you aren't using a lighted lock-on try putting a lighted car on the tracks and see if that helps. The CW-80 will leave just a very small trickle of power going to the tracks that in a lot cases will keep the e-unit from functioning .

[lionelsoni]

Notice the last line, "Made in China  G0407".  The "G" indicates that it is the corrected design.

[sir james I]

You stated the engine runs ok  with a different transformer so I would guess its ok. It's a tough call without being there. but I would say transformer problem if all is well on a different one.

[davidam]

thanks doug.  the lights work the rail sounds tender works & the lighted caboose all work when the transformer is powered up. the dirictional button does not make the engine move , the whistle & bell buttons activate each one.

[davidam]

thanks for the pic. the number on mine is 0703 i  have to asume the dealer sold me the wrong transformer. the thing i don't understand is why it's worked since i purchased it in '03

thanks dave

[EIS2]

Your older model transformer will still work fine.  However, you must take special precautions if you use the track and accessories on a common bus.  If you use separate wiring for track and accessories, it will work OK without phasing issues.  I have the older model like yours and it has worked satisfactorily for years.

Earl

[lionelsoni]

There is no "phasing" problem with wiring accessories to share a common with the track.  The problem with that transformer is that the terminals marked A and B are actually connected together and are the transformer common.  The two U terminals are not connected together as you would think.

If you are not going to use the accessory-voltage output, just connect U to the outside rails and A to the center rail.  If you are going to use accessories that do not need a common connection to the track, just connect them to B and U.

But, if you want to use accessories that do share a common with the track, like anti-derailing turnouts and control-rail crossing gates and signals, you need to connect A or B to the outside rails and the U terminal that is near the A terminal to the center rail.  Connect the other U terminal to the accessories or turnout fixed-voltage terminal.  Then plan on pushing the bell button to blow the whistle, and vice-versa.

If everything works but the direction-changing button, try briefly disconnecting the transformer from the track to see whether that makes the locomotive change direction.

[davidam]

I followed your directions for the wire connections on the cw and disconnected the accessories and the engine ran the diectional button, whistle and bell all worked . I know now to use another transformer for the accessories. Thanks for the advise Bob.

Dave