Running MTH with with Lionel L37947 - GW-180 WATT TRANSFORMER

Yes. In fact, many folks running DCS power their layouts with Lionel’s 180-watt brick that comes with the GW controller. The 180-watt brick is an excellent power source.

What determines the wave form  - the brick or the controller?

@ns1001 posted:

What determines the wave form  - the brick or the controller?

Good point...the controller could change the wave form. Someone else is probably familiar with the GW controller and what it outputs.

The GW-180 is a chopped waveform controller and will indeed create the sawtooth output if it's not at full throttle.  Other than the MTH Z-4000, I can't think of a train transformer with electronic voltage control that doesn't generate the chopped waveform.

Question for Gunrunner,

If running DCS & Legacy, on a fair size layout (14'x25' with 2 interconnected loops & one reversing loop) what would be your top 3 power sources? If money wasn't an issue or a moderate concern. The layout is a little more complicated than that, it also has a few sidings & a yard. Of course feedback from members welcome.

I am an electronics DUMBBELL, and every time I hear "chopped sine wave vrs smooth sine wave", my head spins! I'm not interested in why, just what will be the most harmonious environment for my trains, & I have no doubt there will be a compromise somewhere. I do not run conventional. If it makes it easier just the ideal choice, but why.

Thanks,

Joe

My choice would be the Lionel PowerHouse 180 bricks.  Excellent fast electronic circuit breaker and very reasonably priced per watt of power.  Any claimed advantages for smoke production to chopped wave transformers evaporates when they're set to full power, and pure sine wave is least likely to generate any electrical noise that may affect your trains, or even other electronics close by.  For pure command operation, the PH180 is hard to beat.  You might want a variable transformer for accessories, many of them are picky about the voltage range they run in.

Sounds good. I've been running an MTH Z4000 for close to 15 years & very satisfied. About a year ago the voltage would drop on one of the throttles, I was told the potentiometer needs replacing. I'd love to get it repaired. Its just a 30 lb door stop now. I switched to a MRC Dual 270 Watt Transformer & so far the trains are running fine. I have 2 180 bricks that came with a Lionel ZW-C just sitting in the wings.

I believe the pot is a pretty generic 10K pot, so it should be replaceable.   Here's the dimensions I was given for the MTH Z-4000 pot.

Following up on this question.

Can I run my MTH Imperial loco conventionally with a CW-180?  Will the bell and whistle buttons code for the same features?  Is there a threat to the locomotives electronics?

Thanks for any help!!

Roger Harms

Rookie

You should be able to run with that transformer.  There's no significant risk, the only issue is some transformers don't work well with the MTH electronics.  They don't necessarily damage it, they just don't run right.  The whistle and bell buttons work the same for any conventional running.  That is, the whistle imparts a positive DC offset on the center rail and the bell button imparts a negative DC offset on the center rail.

Thanks so much.  Didn’t know how it works, and that’s fun, too!

Rog

I use the Lionel 180 for conventional running with both Lionel and MTH engines. All seem to run well. Williams locos, as well.

Just tried it out and all seems just fine.  Thanks for the wisdom of experience!

Rog