New to Lionel

I'm on hold until I get a little help with this.

What is Lionel’s reason for not using CW80 accessory terminals for uncouplers aux power. Is this in reference to the old CW80s with the upside down common terminals?

That's what started this question. I'm thinking 15 to 18 volts for switches being too high for the uncouplers. But I'm the new guy on the block. Blayne

Blanye:

Check this out. It may help - further on down if you have the 'new' CW80 you are ok.

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/84019.aspx

The basic issue is outlined here

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/p/65885/808469.aspx

If your CW has a G before the date, it’s a newer one.

Both were just purchased from the Lionel store. There is a G before the serial number on each one.So my question is can I run turnouts and uncoupler off of the same buss or do they require different voltages? I think that probably the voltage required to throw the turnout should be higher. When I measured the voltage of the transformer I got 15V from the acc terminals. So I could use the acc  terminals for the turnouts and use the variable terminals to power the uncoupler but crank the voltage down to 10V. Next is why not do this from 1  CW80?

You do realize that you can adjust the ACC voltage on the CW-80, right?

Well,well another revelation . Thanks In light of this and my desire to have uncouplers and turnouts use auxiliary power I can stay out of all sorts of trouble by using the factory setting of 12V on one of the CW-80 for the uncouplers and and the 2nd CW-80 with the accessory V brought up to 18V  for the turnouts.  this would mean 3 buss lines with all attached to a common return . One for TMCC cab 1 running through  a Legacy 990. one for uncouplers running 12V and one running 18V for turnouts. Do you approve? 

Personal opinion from experience - it would be best to use both CW80's and only the handle. I don't know if any of the stuff you want to power has solid state devices but if they do please beware that there is a voltage spike on turn-on for the ACC terminals which can go over 30 volts. I have two CW80's and blew up about five DZ-1008 relays before a friend came over with an oscilloscope and measured the voltage spikes on both transformers - one at 30 and I believe the other at 32 volts. The relays were only good to 25 volts. Gunrunnerjohn has offered a fix for controlling the spike.

The handles are safe if you turn on the transformer with them 'off' then raise to your desired voltage. I have no idea if there is a voltage spike if the handles are left in an 'on' position when the transformer is turned on.

I raised this voltage spike issue with the Lionel rep who posted about a new CW80 design on another CW80 post. He has yet to answer the question.

Joe

V spike wouldn't matter because they are only going to provide power to turnouts and uncouplers

Looking at the schematic, it seems the two outputs are handled exactly the same way, it's curious that one would have a spike and the other one not. I'll have to check that out...

Yes. I have reliably shorted out the transient suppressors on the psx-ac with CW-80s on the variable side

Are there any devices that would trip on V spikes and reset automatically that could be put in line between the CW-80 and the buss?

Not really, it's not worth the effort to retain the CW-80, cheaper to get a pure transformer and eliminate the cause of the spikes.

I have taken your advice and hav a 1033 coming.