Sine, chopped, ahhh!

I think your plan can work, ftauss.

I will now share with you the different transformers, which do different things, to power my layout, in case what I've done might benefit you.

I have a moderate-sized, long and narrow switching layout with Postwar O Gauge tubular track and 16 independently powered 022 switches.

I also have a lot of Postwar, quite a bit of MTH PS 1, 2 and 3, a few LC+, a couple of TMCC and 1 Legacy engine.

What has worked well for me is using 1 Z4000 for the 2 independently powered and interconnected main lines, another Z4000 to power my 8 independently powered sidings, 1 ZW to power my numerous Postwar operating accessories and another ZW to power the 16 022 switch tracks. I have an abundance of power for my 36 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide layout.

Of course, my Z4000s are properly phased, so my trains run smoothly when they run from a siding to a main line, and from 1 main line to the other.

I acquired and hooked up the DCS remote set last year to run my MTH PS 2 and 3 locomotives, with which I'm very pleased. Although I have the Legacy base and special chord to run my TMCC using the DCS remote, I  could not get my TMCC engines to run well using the DCS remote. I think getting TMCC to run using the DCS remote can be a little tricky. For the time being, I run my TMCC conventionally.

I love running my Legacy engine and LC+2.0 engine using the LionChief Universal Remote, and my 4 LC+ engines using their LionChief dedicated remotes.

With the collection and layout I have, the 2 Z4000s with their pure sign wave operating systems work great running my MTH PS 2 and 3,  LC+, LC+2.0 and Legacy engines on my 2 main lines and 8 sidings. I enjoy their basic features (speed control, smoke, sounds whistle, bell and electrocoupler features), so I run them a lot.

When I'm in the mood, I also run my MTH PS 1 and Postwar Lionel engines. When I do so, my Z4000s work fine running those locomotives.

So  I guess I'm a pure sine wave guy. LOL, Arnold

PS: Were sine waves mentioned in trigonometry, or maybe it was sine, co-sine and tangent that was mentioned in trigonometry? I think I did quite well on my trigonometry regents exam. but now hardly remember a thing about it. LOL again, Arnold

PS: Were sine waves mentioned in trigonometry, or maybe it was sine, co-sine and tangent that was mentioned in trigonometry? I think I did quite well on my trigonometry regents exam. but now hardly remember a thing about it. LOL again, Arnold

Yeah, I took geometry as a summer course between 9th and 10th grades. Acer still use some of it. But I do not think some in instance is the same.

Thank you for your insight. I have been collecting this stuff for 10+ years. A lot was stored after.my divorce but I did have a  6x10 in the living room of my townhouse. Now, through the help of a new and improved wife, I added a large train room to my house and I am trying to get myself organized. Since I don't have to worry about taking it down now I have 2 loops of shadow rail (Kline and RMT) down and the CW80s have been a huge dissapointment. I've been undecided what to but taking stock this is the solution I've come up with. I think the final product will be close to 20' long and 6' to 4' wide. I like using the throttles on the ZW but I also do like my remotes for more features. The Lionel 91 circuit breaker seems like the ideal solution for the ZW and the 1033. So now that is where I am going now. Now I can think about trackage, etc.

Thanks. I always like your posts and comments.

Frank

PRR, Southern and NYC.

I'm a fan of the pre-war Lionel #91 circuit breaker, it's amazing for something that was built before WWII.

I personally love the 1033 and think it's the best transformer Lionel ever made - at least for my train preferences. But it is worth noting that Lionel has redesigned the electronics of the CW80 and it is expected to arrive stateside in August. Dave Olson talks about, and demonstrates it here...

PS: I tried to "time stamp" the link, but it didn't work. Scroll ahead about 2 minutes to begin the video. He talks about the CW first.

Swapped out the CWs for the ZW-275. So far everything that did not run, runs. Everything that ran badly, runs well. And it seems like the stuff that was running is running better.

Can't wait for the #91 circuit breakers to get here so I can check all of my MTH. I love the smell of toy train smoke in the morning.

Frank

After all of these years and endless complaints is there any reason to  own a CW80?

Alan

@ajzend posted:

After all of these years and endless complaints is there any realtor own a CW80?

Alan

What does a realtor have to do with a Lionel CW80?

If you are going to look for modern AC power I recommend these transformers:

I don't recommend this transformer. It wreaks havoc on QSI, PS1 and PS2 sound systems.

@ajzend posted:

After all of these years and endless complaints is there any realtor own a CW80?

If you mean really "really", the answer is yes.  I own a CW-80, that's how I got the waveforms I posted.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

What does a realtor have to do with a Lionel CW80?

My phone finished the word for me. I changed it to “reason”

Alan

I have a first generation Z4000. I contemplated ordering a second, but rather expensive for a back up. So, I bought this from a forum sponsor. It arrived today.

I know it doesn't = the Z4000, but it will provide power until I decide on a replacement, if the Z4000 fails.

I use the same transformer on my test bench, it works great and with the pure sine wave I have no issues with anything that gets plopped on the bench for diagnosis.  130 watts of output power is more than sufficient for anything I do on the bench.

@ajzend posted:

After all of these years and endless complaints is there any reason to  own a CW80?

Alan

See Brianel's post above yours - Lionel has come out with a new, completely redesigned CW80. See Dave's video, which Brian notated in his post. Looks like a pretty nice small transformer.

I'm sure the CW-80 is still a chopped waveform transformer.  They may have eliminated all the electrical ringing from the output, but that part I'm sure didn't change.  I also got my 130 watt MRC AH501 for a lot less money than a new CW-80...

Original CW-80 Half-Throttle Waveform

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'm sure the CW-80 is still a chopped waveform transformer.  They may have eliminated all the electrical ringing from the output, but that part I'm sure didn't change.  I also got my 130 watt MRC AH501 for a lot less money than a new CW-80...

Original CW-80 Half-Throttle Waveform

John

That's why I bought the MRC pure power. Thanks to you and others, I searched and found this transformer.

@ajzend posted:

My phone finished the word for me. I changed it to “reason”

I will point out that my CW-80 is in a box labeled "Miscellaneous Transformers", I don't actually use it for anything.

Add another vote for the Pure Power.  I have a variety ranging from postwar and MPC, to LionChief and MTH PS1-PS2, and all run well with a pure sine wave.  The chopped wave units do ok with some, iffy with others, and the PS2 doesn’t like the CW80.  I run mostly with the MRC and a KW.

So a MRC ah501….a good price at 50-75 ,

I could not afford a Z4000 either, but I did find a few years ago for a very good price a MRC Pure Power Dual AH601. I hope this never dies, since I keep going back to it as I can't find anything better at a reasonable price point.

@ajzend posted:

After all of these years and endless complaints is there any reason to  own a CW80?

Alan

While it's a bit overkill for a paperweight. It makes a fabulous doorstop for the train room.

No doubt the oddest transformer on the planet. A redesign is long overdue.

I replaced 2 cw 80s I was using to power accessories with a 180w brick.

Everything runs better at lower voltages.

"So a MRC ah501….a good price at 50-75"

============================

Ever since John posted about the MRC AH501 a few months ago I have been looking for one.  Hardly anyone has them and those who do want $180 or more for them.  Who has them for $50-$75?

Which forum sponsor?

@Craftech posted:

Ever since John posted about the MRC AH501 a few months ago I have been looking for one.  Hardly anyone has them and those who do want $180 or more for them.  Who has them for $50-$75?

$50-75 would be a very good price for a quality 130W pure sine wave transformer with whistle and bell controls!  Good luck finding one at that price!

@Oman posted:

I have a first generation Z4000. I contemplated ordering a second, but rather expensive for a back up. So, I bought this from a forum sponsor. It arrived today.

I know it doesn't = the Z4000, but it will provide power until I decide on a replacement, if the Z4000 fails.

Which forum sponsor?

John

@Craftech posted:

Which forum sponsor?

John

Nicholas Smith Trains

@Oman posted:

Nicholas Smith Trains

Thanks

John

EDIT:  $220.  Thanks.  I'll wait.

Interesting to read about transformers. I have a number for accessories, including a ZW. But for actually running trains, I have no use for them, using Lionel 180W bricks with command control.