FasTrack voltage check

Red lead on the center rail - black lead on either outside rail.

What voltages should be expecting with a CW-80?

I believe the 8042 is a conventional (non-command) 2-4-2 steam engine and tender, so your voltage will vary depending on how far you push up the throttle on the CW-80 and how fast you run the engine. You may find that the engine runs fine at 8 volts or needs more voltage to run acceptably.

With no train on the track, you can attach your meter leads to the transformer output terminals at the rear of the CW-80 and turn it on and push the throttle up about a 1/3 throw to apply voltage to the track. Observe the voltage reading on the meter. Now, leave the throttle alone and just disconnect the meter leads from the back of the CW-80 and use them to measure voltage across the rails at several different points along your layout.

The readings should all be about the same (or marginally less) as coming out of the CW-80. This way you can tell if the track is getting good voltage all along the layout.

I honestly don't know where to turn here.  When I test the track as you explained, the meter display jumps around from negative values up to 150 with the m displayed, which I know isn't right.  The engine itself will go around the track fine (over 20x before I stopped it), when the tender is added it goes around 2x then stops.  I can start it again.  It does slow down and speed up on its own.  I tightened up my center connectors on the track so I think that is fine(?).  The red lead from transformer is connected to the center track connector, and black to the outer track connector.

@pankers posted:

...the meter display jumps around from negative values up to 150 with the m displayed...

Set the meter to "AC".

Ok sorry I was still in "standalone track mode".  On AC I get a solid 16.2 all the way around the track.  When I set the engine on and run it halfway, I get about 6.7V, full throttle 8.9 volts.  So I think the track and transformer are good.  Anything else I can do to rule those out?

Follow what @pankers and what @ADCX Rob has posted.

I humbly suggest an additional step. I just hope my explanation is clear.

If the voltage measurements around your loop with no train on the tracks is okay (as any problem in these measurements must be fixed first), then do the following. Put your train back on the tracks, with illuminated passenger cars if you have them. Get the train running at a slow speed. You are going to measure the track voltage with the train running. Measure the voltage on the section of track where the voltage is attached to loop when the train is moving and, I think it is obvious,  the train is not on the track section you are measuring on. I know this requires a few gymnastics, but there is a reason. Once you have the voltage reading on the section of track where the voltage is attached to your loop, relocate yourself approximately 1/2 way around you loop. Just as the train passes, put the meter on the tracks, and watch the voltage as the train makes its way around the loop, back to where you are measuring. If you see that the voltage is lower than the measurement at the power section, you are seeing the effect of poor track to track connections. Watch the meter as the train makes it way around the loop, you may see the voltage rise as the train leaves where you are measuring at the half way point, then decrease as the train passes the power track and begins approaching the half way point.

I usually touch one meter probe to the outside of the outer rail - the wheel flanges are on the inside of the outer rail, this nothing will hit the meter probe. I then just have to touch the other meter probe to the center rail once the train has passed, the get the center rail probe off just before the train gets me!!!!!!!

The reason the voltage may look fine around your loop with no train, then look low at the halfway point with the train running, is that the poor connections result in some resistance to the current flowing from (and back to) the transformer. Voltage drop = Current multiplied by Resistance. So 0 current (no train on the track) would result in o Voltage drop. Train draws current, and halfway point gives you the most track to track connections from the power connection track.

Does it stop in random places or always the same spot?

@dmestan: varies

@MED - I will try that.

Ok update.  First of all, the engine will only pull the tender around 2x then stops.  Not always at the same place, but two loops.  If I add a third non-lighted car, it won't pull it.

Now for the voltage, I am getting a constant voltage as it goes around the track, both when I test at the terminal track section and halfway around.  It is around 6.7 volts everywhere.

@RickO: That was the first thing I did.  Watched your video, bent the center pins in, and I have continuity everywhere.  Thx

If the train runs fine w/o the tender and only stops when the tender is attached, that's a pretty good indicator that there's an issue with the tender, itself, although the extra weight and drag of the tender could be impacting the engine.

1. Are you sure that nothing is binding in the tender and the wheels are lubricated and turning freely ?

2.  Is there an area that is hot to the touch on the tender after it stops ? What about the engine ?

3. As an aside, you may want to invest in a digital volt meter. There are many highly rated pocket ones on the web for around $10.00.

OK, good point about the tender.  So I removed it and connected two boxcars directory to the engine just as a test.  It pulled them around the track 3x then stopped.  I started it again and almost 3x, when I increased the throttle slightly, it stopped.  Once more I started it, and increased the throttle on the first time around, but it never picked up speed.

Nothing hot to the touch on the engine.  Digital voltmeter a good idea, thx.

When you increase the voltage to the engine by raising the throttle up on the CW-80, is there a corresponding increase in voltage on the track, especially where the train stops ?

@pankers posted:

I have a CW-80 transformer...

Let's see a pic of the bottom of that transformer.

@Ritchie C: with the two boxcars, an increase in the CW-80 throttle does not increase voltage, the train does not speed up.  It goes a couple times around then stops.  With the engine only, the voltage does increase.  Engine only will run around endlessly it seems.

@Rob - will go grab the pic now.

Here is the bottom of the transformer.

That’s not a CW80. That is a power max 30watt transformer. A CW80 is a 80 watt transformer.

Perhaps we have discovered the source of the problem.

Yikes, I agree.  From the top it looks like a Lionel CW-80.  LIONEL engraved in the plastic, and the Lionel seal.  Not sure what happened there.  But 30W won't cut it, even I know that.

@MartyE posted:

That’s not a CW80. That is a power max 30watt transformer. A CW80 is a 80 watt transformer.

@Richie C. posted:

Perhaps we have discovered the source of the problem.

Yup, hence the photo request. It's a simple overload.

Well good call.  Let me ask, what tipped you to that?

I'm requesting a refund on this hybrid thing I have.