fan problems on CW transformer

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it overmuch. I have 2 CW-80s that start-up with an alarming death-rattle-whirr, but they settle down after a few minutes. I even have one where the fan doesn't work at all, and they all seem to function perfectly in all other respects. I just put it down to them each having a unique and endearing character. 

I agree with Nichole - I have two that are pretty noisy until they warm up.  Lubrication will help, but requires a triangular-head driver.  

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.  I'll leave them be.

Start worrying when it stops making noise

I' thinkin Kens got the right idea, I have two that moan and groan as well, just haven't gotten around to getting the proper screwdriver to open them and oil the fan motor bushing.

 

I've had great luck fixing this problem on all sorts of electric motors, works every time. The ones that squeal apparently are NOT "maintenance free".

A drop of oil works wonders.

Transformers have fans? I learn something new here every day!

Not all, but CW-80s do, must be the high output 

A lot of the new ones do, good idea to pop the top and oil the fan and blow out the dust every once in a while.

"Popping" the top of the CW is a PITA, you have to have a triangular screwdriver, Lionel obviously didn't want us in there.

I believe that the reasoning for the 'security' screws used on most mains powered devices these days is more due to legislation and fear of litigation than any real desire from the manufacturer to make our lives more difficult. If a 5 year old with a regular screwdriver can take something apart where mains electricity is present, the implications these days are pretty frightening. But as these 'security' screwdrivers can be easily obtained, the inconvenience isn't too severe. (Just don't let the kids know where you keep them. )

RickO,

 

When the CW-80 was first introduced, some Lionel marketing "genius" called it "reminiscent of the famed ZW" or words to that effect. This was a poor turn of phrase. Clearly he was referring to styling, not power output; but evidently some folks bought them thinking they were going to power several trains at a time on a 60' by 120' foot layout. This was and is nonsense. In terms of power, the CW-80 is comparable to a 1033, with several advantages over the latter.

 

After Lionel worked through their early production difficulties, the "G" model CW-80s emerged as  good, reliable transformer/controllers on one chassis that will deliver an honest 5 amps safely.  It will easily match a 1033 when the 1033 is restricted to its design specifications (which it should be) by a working circuit-breaker or fuse. It has both bell and horn/whistle buttons, a programable-output for accessories, a unique self-protection system known as a fold-back circuit, and a range of 0 to full output voltage.

 

It is true the CW-80 is "unhappy" with some MTH products. If that bothers you don't buy a CW-80 or don't buy certain MTH products, but consider dropping the sarcasm about the CW-80. Except for the very earliest ones, they will do exactly what their specifications claim, and even a bass-ackwards-wired early one may do as well. The bizzare factory wiring affected only certain layouts with only certain accessories or switches.

 

The bashing of the CW-80 has gone on far too long. It's neither amusing nor helpful. Enough already!

 

Or so it seems to me.

 

 

I hate to admit I own one too, but CW-80 I use for lighting makes the fan noise too on start up, then goes away. No big thing.

Rob

We used to have to run fans aimed at the clubs ZW's to keep them cool, Later replaced them with Z-4000's that had fans.

 

I have two CW80's both seem to work nicely for what they are. The brief hesitation between lever power up and track being powered too a second to get used to, but overall I am happy with them

I have two and they performed flawlessly for 12 hours straight on layout I set up for Christmas at my church. One of them has always had a strange "breathing" sound for the first few minutes, but then goes away.  It's never been a real problem.

No bashing here, just in the grand scheme of things they are on the small side, especially when compared with two 180w bricks parallel through a TPC 400, no fan required. Justa little ironic, thats all.

 

I use two CW-80 strictly for my accessory power, aside from the noisey fans at startup they do the job just fine.

What is the big deal with the cw 80? I have the one that came with the first edition of the Polar Express set. Is that a good one or a bad one? I never used it or even took it out of the box, nor the track, just the trains.

The old CW80 had problems. The newer "G" code ones are much improved.

For around the **** tree the CW80 is fine.  For a beginner just starting out with simple loops it is fine.  If you are building a decent size layout bigger than 8x4 then you best plan to use the CW80 for accessories, buildings, lights, trolley lines.

 

Jim

Is Christmas really a dirty word here?  I can't believe the profanity filter takes that out!

Yes, but ****, ****, ****, and **** are also banned.

 

There is a common misconception that the word using "X" instead of "Christ" stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".  The term, a popular shortened form of the word "Christmas" that originates from the use of the Greek letter chi to represent "Christ" (Χριστός, Xristos), has been a particular topic of controversy among Christians unfamiliar with the historical roots of the term.

I wondered what happened.

Anyway... The CW80 is a great transformer. I powered my double mainline, fastrack, 8x18 ft, 2 trains, TMCC, with just one power drop.

Ooops.  I forgot :X-m.. was a forbidden word.  Oh well.  No offense intended.

Thanks for the info Rob. I have seen several Churches in the Pittsburgh area use the word on their informational signs.

 

Also, the fan on my CW-80 hasn't worked for years. I use it to run a Marx train around the Christmas tree and it hasn't overheated yet. Kind of afraid to use it for long periods of time to power accessories on my permanent layout.

Originally posted by N.Q.D.Y.

 

"Personally, I wouldn't worry about it overmuch. I have 2 CW-80s that start-up with an alarming death-rattle-whirr, but they settle down after a few minutes."

 

I'll weigh in to a topic already beat to death by observing that every CW-80 I have (five) does this after a few years of running.  But they each settle down to quiet operation within a few minutes of starting.  It sounds to me exactly like the fan bearings just get a bit worn and the shaft rattles a bit.  The fan is still worked, I know that, so I just tolerate it until it goes away.  However, I must say that when I start up the whole layout, the cacaphoney of five of them doing this for a few minutes is rather annoying.

Well, many would say that having five CW-80's on the layout qualifies you as a masochist anyway, so what's a little more self-abuse?