GW180 Transformer and MTH Engines in Conventional

  I'd have to guess it is a CW controller with a higher amp capacity needing an external supply because of space. I would expect it to be very similar in general operations, just having more "umph".  

I just know the early MTH does best on pure sine, avoid the newer ones until you know more about which chopped/PWave they don't like.

Buy some tvs diodes. Then some magnetic breakers for a PW unit or buy something substantial and new like a Z-4000, ZW-L.

@Adriatic posted:

  I'd have to guess it is a CW controller with a higher amp capacity needing an external supply because of space. I would expect it to be very similar in general operations, just having more "umph".  

I just know the early MTH does best on pure sine, avoid the newer ones until you know more about which chopped/PWave they don't like.

Buy some tvs diodes. Then some magnetic breakers for a PW unit or buy something substantial and new like a Z-4000, ZW-L.

I have an MRC pure power dual transformer but I like the breakers on the 180s better. Plus the conventional operation with the MRC kinda sucks due to the diodes for the whistle and bell. 

I wonder if it isn't so much the transformer as much as it is the user. In my experience, the conventional bell & whistle "morse code" can be tricky to time correctly without some practice as indicated in the example manual. I can't say I have personally tried it with a CW or GW. As @Adriatic stated, the CW80 and GW180 are of similar construction & circuitry and I wouldn't expect a different result based upon the design. My Lionel Legacy PowerMasters have these codes built in and they work flawlessly, so Lionel isn't being malicious.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the codes (the manual goes into more detail in the next few pages):

https://www.mthtrains.com/site...ction/20dl16606i.pdf

@Trainlover9943 posted:

I have an MRC pure power dual transformer but I like the breakers on the 180s better. Plus the conventional operation with the MRC kinda sucks due to the diodes for the whistle and bell. 

Trouble on postwar? Slow downs? I've used one briefly; nice enough.

I don't know that's the same "180" unit as the similarly nammed TMCC/Leg. units meant for command. The whole line doesn't use the same systems. Im not saying it will or won't work; I take the err on the side of caution approach. ...some folks dive in deep without looking. I assumed you run conventionally but use modern equipment and would like to access at least some extra features.

You can make a diode whistle/bell controller with a higher offset to trigger PW whistles. Stubborn whistle relays need more offset, the modern stuff seems more interested in seeing the wave shape of the diodes more so than the offset, a "change" has to happen faster. Add another diode for the offset chain to plans found in threads here for more offset.

I'm thinking a polyfuse might be interesting to play with to add a lower offset holding voltage.(takes way more voltage to pull than hold a relay=way less heat if you can lower it in an instant) (this is the "half way handle" effect on getting postwar transformers to force some whistles into action, it boosts the offset for a second when thrown normally. Halfway holds the big offset.)

A homespun whistle/bell can incorporate a voltage boost(or drop) to better mimick the PW transformer 5v boost, or your custom boost liking.

This knocks a near equal amount of voltage boost, off the top voltage (v=speed of motor).  I doubt you spend a lot of time with the throttles near pegged, so no loss for most trains anyhow. It would take a few more throttle volts before things move ("saved" until boost is called for). It's actually more like an voltage governer you release, and make an offset with. Youd need one for each throttle if you want it everywhere.

@Adriatic posted:

Trouble on postwar? Slow downs? I've used one briefly; nice enough.

I don't know that's the same "180" unit as the similarly nammed TMCC/Leg. units meant for command. The whole line doesn't use the same systems. Im not saying it will or won't work; I take the err on the side of caution approach. ...some folks dive in deep without looking. I assumed you run conventionally but use modern equipment and would like to access at least some extra features.

You can make a diode whistle/bell controller with a higher offset to trigger PW whistles. Stubborn whistle relays need more offset, the modern stuff seems more interested in seeing the wave shape of the diodes more so than the offset, a "change" has to happen faster. Add another diode for the offset chain to plans found in threads here for more offset.

I'm thinking a polyfuse might be interesting to play with to add a lower offset holding voltage.(takes way more voltage to pull than hold a relay=way less heat if you can lower it in an instant) (this is the "half way handle" effect on getting postwar transformers to force some whistles into action, it boosts the offset for a second when thrown normally. Halfway holds the big offset.)

A homespun whistle/bell can incorporate a voltage boost(or drop) to better mimick the PW transformer 5v boost, or your custom boost liking.

This knocks a near equal amount of voltage boost, off the top voltage (v=speed of motor).  I doubt you spend a lot of time with the throttles near pegged, so no loss for most trains anyhow. It would take a few more throttle volts before things move ("saved" until boost is called for). It's actually more like an voltage governer you release, and make an offset with. Youd need one for each throttle if you want it everywhere.

I run mostly command with DCS And Legacy. With the PPD(Pure Power Dual), when I blow the whistle or sound the bell on a conventional engine (Lionel or MTH) the train does slow down. 

Diodes can be arrainged to also provide a boost (it will hold back a little voltage until caled for. Search homespun whistle controls , GRJ is usually present in those)

It would take few say 3- 4a diodes to test your proplem equipment.(final diodes used should be big enough handle all the amps of the MRC or more than each lines breaker)