MTH engine on 80 Watt Transformer

Is the 80 watt unit a Lionel CW80? If so, that is your problem. MTH engines don't "play nice" with those units. IMO, the CW80 is only good for paperweight. 

yes it is the CW80.  This is what I was starting to think, that it is the transformer not the track.  I will look to upgrade to a better power supply.

An 80 watt transformer should be plenty of power for one modern engine with 2 can motors.  Is the transformer a CW80?  I don’t think the CW80 plays nice with PS2 or PS3 engines.  If you look at an owner’s manual for an MTH engine, it lists many transformers that are compatible, but you won’t see the CW80 on the list.

 If you are going to get more than a few MTH engines, I would get the TIU and remote.

Only 1 MTH engine so far running on a small FasTrack loop in the living room.  Second hand engine but in pristine condition.  I will look for the manual to download.  None in the box.   I was hoping to avoid getting a massive transformer for the small loop.  I am thinking that the TIU would be the best way to go or their smaller simple remote.

It's about power in Watts.  90 Watts is more than enough to drive your SD70 and some cars. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion; here's mine.

If you're just getting started in O-gauge and "only" have a small layout, leapfrog right to command-control where a fixed-voltage is placed on the track.  You can buy the MTH DCS Remote Commander that you mention for less than MSRP on eBay, online, or right here on the OGR Buy/Sell forum.  You can mess around with DCS command-control on your MTH PS2 SD70 by getting a 90 Watt DC brick (MTH PS2 engines can operate on AC or DC).  DC bricks are much less expensive than than an AC brick of equivalent Wattage.  For example, there are 90 Watt Universal Laptop Chargers which have DC output on eBay for about $10 (not a typo, ten), free shipping.  That's about 10 cents per Watt which is a good price to pay for a fixed-output transformer (DC or AC).

Note that MTH HO RTR Sets are shipped with a a fixed-output DC transformer and the DCS Remote Commander.

Thank you Stan for such a detailed response.

Marios trains has a DCS remote commander and a z-500 brick for $59 and I think free shipping

Fantastic deal.  Ordered!

Note that to use the DCS Remote Commander, your PS2 engine's command address must be set to the so-called factory-default value.  As your engine is 2nd hand, there's a good chance it was programmed in use to something other than this default address value so your Remote Commander will not be able to talk to it.

Resetting the engine's address requires a TIU.  A local train dealer which sells MTH products can perform this reset for you (sometimes a small fee is involved).  Or you might find a local club or individual here on OGR that will assist you.

When you get your DCS Remote Commander you will know right away.  Either it talks to the engine or it doesn't!

Yep, a well known(just not to you, unfortunately) issue, CW80+MTH PS2/3= problems.

Contrary to what many will say, the CW80's built AFTER 2005, are Great transformers for their INTENDED use, Yes the EARLIER ones did have some issues that have LOOOONG since been corrected, some people just can't let go of the past.

A CW80 SHOULD be able to run ANY locomotive.

An MTH locomotive SHOULD be able to be run by any transformer.

In the REAL world SHOULD doesn't always mean DOES, unfortunately, the CW80/MTH PS2/3 combination is a bad one.

Is the CW80 a BAD design, because it wont run MTH PS2/3?

Is the MTH PS 2/3 a BAD design because it can't be run with a CW80?

I guess the answer to those questions, depends on YOUR perspective.

The CW80 was DESIGNED to run LIONEL starter set trains on a small layout, it was NEVER designed to be the sole power source for a basement filling layout, OR to run MTH trains. The CW80 does what it was DESIGNED to do VERY WELL, I PERSONALLY (YMMV), have had HIGHER failure rates with the MTH "Z 500,750 and 1000 " transformers than I have had with the CW80.

Used for what it was designed for, the CW80 is a GREAT little transformer, used for other purposes, all bets are off, which is true of many/most products.

Doug

I have gone through some of the things you are experiencing. My email is in my profile if you want to talk send email and I'll give you my phone number. Easier for me to talk on phone than to type

Trainplace posted:

yes it is the CW80.  This is what I was starting to think, that it is the transformer not the track.  I will look to upgrade to a better power supply.

The CW-80 is on the MTH list of "Don't use transformers!" for DCS. I personally know that a CW-80 won't work with PS-2 engines by MTH.

An Atlas or Williams transformer of 80 watts will work. I have 3 MTH Z-1000 transformers, and a post war ZW that I use with my MTH engines.

Lee Fritz

Thanks Lee, definitely going to get a better transformer in the near future!