I have a CW80 running my Niagara and Pacific on a living room carpet Christmas layout (my ZWL is not with me). I have been reticent with running all the smoke units at the same time not wanting to incur the blinks of death or other damage; so I only used 1 smoke unit at a time. You folks know my reputation with smoke units.
With directions from GRJ (many many thanks), I connected a meter (see drawing below) and took a look at how much amperage they would draw when switched on successively. The CW80 has a max output of 4.71 amps (80 watts/17 volts from my meter) so I have to keep that in mind.
For the Niagara by itself, at startup the stack, whistle, and pop off switched on and being used draw a max of 3.70 amps; then decreases to ~1 to ~2 amps depending on when you activate a unit; well within the range of the transformer.
Next, for the Pacific by itself, at startup the stack and whistle switched on and being used draw a max of 2.70 amps; then decreases to ~1 to ~2 amps depending on when you activate a unit.
I will refrain from running both locomotives at the same time with all smoke units on as to not incur the blinks of death.
One last thing, on my meter, I also had to go thru a sequence of steps to get the meter ready: see my meter lead positions below, set the transformer lever to supply 0 volts, disconnect the transformer red lead to the track, set the meter Dial to A (turns the meter on), press the meter 'Select' button on my meter to AC, connect the meter red lead to the transformer power terminal, connect the meter black lead to the middle rail, connect the black ground lead from the transformer to the outer rail, THEN rotate the transformer lever to supply power (17 volts) to the track. From my EE nephew, you can blow a meter if you do not do this right. Now, run your train.
