Can I run 2 Lionel CW80's on the same line to run my 2 tmcc trains?Will that give me enough power?

No for the CW 80s.

You should only parallel a pair of fixed voltage transformers such as similar PowerHouse bricks by linking them to a TPC [Track power Controller].

So you want to run two TMCC locos on the same track at the same time? Have you tried doing it with just one CW80? What locos are they? I can easily run two locos on one track with my one CW80 but my trains are fairly short and I don't run more than three lighted passenger cars. Honestly, I don't see why you can't parallel the two. If both throttles are set at max there should be no voltage difference. Their self protect circuits should still work. But when you see one of them start to give the blinky light shut them both down.

And of course make sure they are in phase

Thanks Flash and Dewey,I am pretty sure that I have both trains a bit overloaded.I will try to see if that works by reducing the amount of cars.

 

Thanks.

What I have done is stripped a CW80 down to just its internal brick and wired it directly to the track with a 10 amp fuse. I was able to run three trains with it. Pulled about 8 amps at 16.5 volts. The transformer never even got warm.

That I would love to do Flash,but I don't think I am that qualified to do that kind of work on a transformer.

Flash,I will give that a try.Don't want to spend any more money then I have too if possible.IF I decide to go the Lionel brick route,what all would I need to run my 2 trains?

 

Thanks

Right now, I have two separate loops on my 20 x 7 foot layout that are connected by a Ross Customs Crossover.  Originally, one rebuilt KW ran everything.  I damaged a post on the KW that I have yet to fix....but I had two new CW80s sitting around.  I simply hooked one CW80 to the inner loop and one to the outer loop and then hooked up my TMCC.  Easy peasy.  I have no problem running two TMCC locomotives on EACH loop.  I've had three running at once on rare occassions.

 

You should have no problem running two TMCC locomotives on one CW80, let alone two transformers.  Modern motors are WAY more efficient than their post war predecessors.

 

If your loop is enormous, you have a lot of lighted passenger cars using bulbs instead of LEDs, lots of accessories, switches, etc....then you may need more power.  However, it doesn't sound like that's the case.

 

I would try simply running both of your locomotives on the same loop using just one CW80.  If that doesn't work, try the other CW80.  The odds of having two junk transformers are small.  If you're still having problems, you've probably hooked something up wrong are are shorting out somewhere, me thinks.

 

Good luck!

 

p.s. - when I'm worried about connectivity issues, I usually start out with a pre-TMCC engine.  once that works, i upgrade to a TMCC locomotive.  i'd rather fry one of my MPC pieces than anything with TMCC.  fortunately, i haven't "cooked" anything to date.

Actually,I just now hooked both CW80 transformers up to my track and it works great,It has plenty of power  for running both of my TMCC trains,and I therefore need not buy anything else.Its just perfect for me.Thanks Berkshire President.