RailKing Proto 1.0 Help

It could be the CW-80 maybe.  But when you power up a PS-1 loco MAKE SURE you keep the voltage between 8 and 10 volts.  If you exceed 10v the loco will NOT come out of "reset."

Ron

PS-1 is designed for "pure sine wave" AC from Lionel postwar transformers and MTH Z4000 transformers.

CW-80 and some other modern transformers have "chopped sine wave" AC that works better for locomotives with modern electronics. But it won't work with PS-1 systems.

There have been many posts on the issue of Lionel CW-80's not playing well with MTH products (look it up!). Suggest you upgrade to a Z-1000 or, better yet a Z-4000 

Thank y'all so much.  I feel like an idiot.  I used an older 1025 Lionel transformer and everything worked perfectly.  However, I will now have to sell it because the locomotive is not compatible with my layout.  Thanks for all the advice!

Don't "feel like an idiot." You had no way of knowing. Lionel was the last 3-rail manufacturer left standing. Everything conformed to Lionel standards until modern electronics entered the picture. When "chopped sine wave" AC transformers and command control were introduced, earlier systems made by QSIndustries and adapted by MTH as PS-1 were put (or pushed) aside around 2000.

"PS-1" was coined after "PS-2" command control systems were introduced. "PS-1" was not printed on MTH boxes. The system was called "Proto-Sound."

QSI manuals listed "non-compatible" transformers in the 1990's. But they were few. Larger layouts used Lionel transformers or other "pure sine wave" transformers like those manufactured by Right-Of-Way.

A person who is unaware of this history has no way of knowing when a locomotive and a transformer are incompatible.

A transformer with a "Bell" button is useful. QSI / MTH and others use negative DC to ring the bell. QSI also uses the "Bell" button for programming.

Ask your dealer which transformer would work best. Generally, a transformer that works with PS-1 will work with later systems.

We wish you well. Keep us posted.

I would suggest that you consider alternatives like a different transformer or you could change out the Proto sounds to a bridge rectifier for single direction only or upgrade to command. My suggestion would be transformer change since you will likely need to change that in the future.

One inexpensive alternative would be to wire in your 1025 transformer with double throw toggle switches into the layout. You could then switch to the 1025 to run your Proto sounds engine when you want.

I have a dozen or so PS-1 equipped locomotives, and they all work with the CW-80 transformer, all 4 of the ones I have.  You just have to make sure you do not go over 10V and they will cycle out of reset.  If it gives you problems, put a lighted car on the track with the locomotive, then it should work.  How were you trying to cycle the locomotive, with the direction button or the handle?  I do know some CW-80s do not go all the way to zero with the handle, and thus won't cycle unless you use the direction button.  All I know is that my PS-1 locomotives all work better with the CW-80 than the Z-1000, PowerMasters, or ZW-C.  And I have a mix of them from the 1st version all the way to the last version of PS-1.