lionel CW 80 watt transformer

Are you running I. Conventional or legacy. Either one should be fine with the 80 transformer.

I am running non legacey trains all post war with the newest I have being about a 1987 model year diesel. i’ve read some reviews that the CW 80 watt can have problems with the E units of the older trains. I have a TW and LW transformer but as one function is fixed another will break getting to costly to fix these older transformers that were made for the post war trains

Skip it. It’s a chopped sign wave transformer. It can cause overheating of postwar motors. This one is among the worst. It only really works with the engines included in the starter sets it came with.

George

that’s what I thought i’ve read some reviews and there not good thanks for your reply 

The classic transformers such as the LW and TW are relatively bulletproof... they shouldn't be giving you reliability issues after given a once over.

I have a LW in for repair and it’s the third time i’m ready to just junk it costing too much to save if you know of anyone having a dependable TW for sale that would be great ebay has a lot but anything i’ve purchased from sellers there have all needed repair unless purchased new

What is wrong with your LW and TW?

the LW is with a friend that’s done lionel repair for about 40 years and gave it to him for a power cord and twice now still does not work. had one when I was a kid and those are a strong little powerhouse. I replaced the TW cord now don’t get a steady green light and no track power I think it’s just years not being run and would love to find another TW

Not to be insensitive, but it sounds the issue may lie with the reliability of your repair man instead of the transformer...

I think you are correct as my friend does appear to have some bad arthritis

George S posted:

Skip it. It’s a chopped sign wave transformer. It can cause overheating of postwar motors. This one is among the worst. It only really works with the engines included in the starter sets it came with.

George

I agree with George: the CW80 works great with modern ready to run sets. I have several and have had no problems. I run my post war trains with a professional rebuilt ZW. 

If your TW or LW is rebuilt properly it should last for years.

Run as far from a CW-80 as possible.......

I have one- can't stand it. Going to pick up a MTH Z-1000 soon.

Mostly a love 'em or hate 'em relationship from what I've read over the years

I agree and not going to spend more ard earned money on junk

While the CW80 is the transformer forum members love to hate...I have been using 4 of them over the past 17 years...2 for my TMCC layout (one for each route), and 1 each for my 2 Christmas layouts. What else can I say?

Put me down for loving the cw 80 after they got the kinks worked out early on.  I have 4 and they run post war and modern and have not failed yet.  Also the programmable accessory tap is a big plus.

that could be a good transformer but all that i’ve found out they have too many quirks and the latest word out is that lionel discontinued the CW 80 that’s a red flag

rebuilder posted:

...the latest word out is that lionel discontinued the CW 80 that’s a red flag...

 Yeah, it only ran for the same # of years as the KW.

never had a KW but did have a TW as a kid and it was a strong little powerhouse to run one layout getting one of those rebuilt now

actually that was the LW I had as a kid a strong little powerhouse