CW-80 Output? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum

Jeff TOGR Forum Member

I just picked up a loco and the previous owner sent a note along and said to run it at 19 volts. I currently have a CW-80 on the track and if I checked it correctly max power is 14.5 volts.

Does that sound correct?

Thanks - from the electrically challenged!

1/10/1512:52 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

William 1OGR Forum Member

Neither one does.

grazOGR Forum Member

Actually, my cw-80 puts outthe same 14.5 as your's so i don't think that's odd.

Most supplies top out at 18v so that's probably whatthe seller meant.

My zw-c doesn't even give out full 18v at any of it's handles.
More like 17 and some change.

midnightwreckingOGR Forum Member

I have never measured my CW-80 but I am pushing the power through 50 feet of bell wire. Most newer locos cruise at half throttle and the older 736s at 70 to 90.

FlashOGR Forum Member

Some digital volt meters will not read voltage properly due to the cw80 chopped sine wave.
14.5 volts is in the ballpark. I think mine topped out at about 15.5 volts.

If your cw80 can push a train down the track and operate bell, whistle, and direction then it's working just fine.

Gerald MarafiotiOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

I agree with flash,i have 3 cw-80's & i never got more than a 15 volt reading,but my trains ran just fine,i now have 4 180 watt powerhouses.

ADCX RobOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Here is some more reading on this.

And here is a great video to digest:

Add Reply

Sign In To Reply

<div id="{%=id%}" class="reveal-modal small h-alert-modal-popup" data-reveal>
    <div class="first-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0" aria-label="Inside Modal"></div>

<h4 id="{%=id%}_title" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-title"></h4>
    <div id="{%=id%}_body" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-body">
        </div>

<ul id="{%=id%}ButtonGroup" class="button-group h-popup-buttons even-button-group even-1">
    <li id="{%=id%}Okay_buttonContainer"><a id="{%=id%}Okay" href="javascript:void(0);" class="button success no-margin-bottom h-alert-modal-ok-button" role="button">OK</a><script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            function {%=id%}Okay_click(event, data) {
            {%=id%}Popup.hide();
        }
        
                $('#{%=id%}Okay').on('click', {%=id%}Okay_click);
        })();
    </script></li></ul><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="close-reveal-modal" aria-label="Close Modal">&#215;</a><div class="last-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0"></div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            {%=id%}Popup = new SS.Popup.ModalPopup('{%=id%}');
        })();
    </script>