CW-80 leaking voltage at off position

I don't know on the transformer problem, but I would never leave a transformer plugged in when I leave the room much less over night. I do not leave my toaster plugged in when I leave the house, fires are not fun. We are talking cheap chinese products here, not mil spec items.

Have my transformers plugged into a power strip, and shut off the strip when I'm not running the trains. When a Thunderstorm is predicted, I unplug the power strip from the wall.

 

Bruce

Sounds like the control circuit died.  I agree with the other opinions, when I'm not using them, I turn off ALL the power with a power strip.

The good news is that Lionel is sending you a replacement. I had a similar problem. Voltage would not go to zero which made reversing locos impossible. Lionel sent me a new one and told me to throw the old one in the trash. Well, I didn't throw it in the trash. Instead I took it apart to find the problem. I actually fixed it and now that CW80 works great. It is good practice to plug your transformers into a power strip and turn off the strip or unplug them when not being used.

Both my CW-80 transformers fail to trigger the DCU on any Bachamnn or K-line locos I have. I have to hook up a light somewhere to make them operate these.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  I didn't know you actually had to unplug the unit.  Sounds kinda user unfriendly and makes running your trains tedious rather than enjoyable. 

 

I actually measured the voltage before the unit crapped out on me and it was definitely reading zero voltage when turned all the way down.  Now I am more than anxious to get my ZW-L. 

Lionel has always wanted you to unplug the transformer for safety. That is why they do not have on/off switches. Imagine what would happen if a postwar or prewar transformer were left at 6V with a derailment or short. The breaker would never trip (if it even had one), but everything would get HOT. As you found out, even modern transformers can have this occur. Thankfully you did not have a derailment or short.  Unpluging the transformer is the only way to be positive the power is off.

I have three CW80s and a Z4000 in addition to DC power supplies I use for Superstreets.  All of these are plugged into a power strip that I switch off when not running trains.  I would strongly recommend this approach - but definately, disconnect the transformer when not using it. 

 

I think you are wrong about " . . . . which most of the time if it did would mean a problem with the CW-80."

 

Both my understanding of what it is for and experience with the green light on a CW-80 is that when it blinks it means a short circuit on the loop, not necessarily a problem with the unit itself.   The most common cause of short circuits on my layout is a car off the rails with the wheels across rails.  Typically, I get around 1.5 - 2.0 volts measured in such circumstances.   

 

Regardless, if you even just susupect it is bad, get it out of there - as someone said above, these are not mil-spec units.  A bad transformer represents something of a hazard to your trains if not you.

Having to unplug/turn off the transformer takes the fun out of running trains?

 

Like others here, I use a power strip which I turn off when I'm done.  Leaving a transformer plugged in/turned on is just asking for trouble.

Hi Flash, What did you do inside the CW80 to get the volts to zero?

   Very best, Don

When I took it apart I modified several things on the inside. There is a small POT on the throttle circuit that is supposed to help zero the voltage but for some reason that didnt work for me. What actually fixed the zero volt problem were the "magic" lightbulbs that I mounted to the case.

Hi Flash, Ok, thanks. That is what Lionel did with the bulb in the ballast on FasTrack.

   Very best, Don