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Was wondering what the correct type of batteries to use in the legacy remote are? I was using Alkaline batteries I purchased from a local CVS store. They work well. but my remote seems to use them very quickly and the battery meter on the remote always shows full charged. I don't use the recharging feature on my base, I keep it turned off. I don't mind using rechargeable batteries however. I found these at harbor freight and before I go and buy them, I was wondering if I should get these or stay away?  Not sure if this is related or not but I just got my remote and base back from Lionel. The screen wouldn't turn off. That problem was fixed and in the notes the tech said he fixed the charging circuit. Not sure if this has anything to do with this issue or not. Thanks for the help. 

Last edited by Trainlover9943
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Trainlover9943 posted:

Was wondering what the correct type of batteries to use in the legacy remote are? I was using Alkaline batteries I purchased from a local CVS store. They work well. but my remote seems to use them very quickly and the battery meter on the remote always shows full charged. I don't use the recharging feature on my base, I keep it turned off. I don't mind using rechargeable batteries however. I found these at harbor freight and before I go and buy them, I was wondering if I should get these or stay away?  Not sure if this is related or not but I just got my remote and base back from Lionel. The screen wouldn't turn off. That problem was fixed and in the notes the tech said he fixed the charging circuit. Not sure if this has anything to do with this issue or not. Thanks for the help. 

harbor freight batteries are in my experience 1/16 on an inch short and do not make good contact.  while you could bend the tabs I do not like to do this unless a last resort.

I used Duracell from Costco.  the Kirkland brand do not last as long either. 

bigdodgetrain posted:
Trainlover9943 posted:

Was wondering what the correct type of batteries to use in the legacy remote are? I was using Alkaline batteries I purchased from a local CVS store. They work well. but my remote seems to use them very quickly and the battery meter on the remote always shows full charged. I don't use the recharging feature on my base, I keep it turned off. I don't mind using rechargeable batteries however. I found these at harbor freight and before I go and buy them, I was wondering if I should get these or stay away?  Not sure if this is related or not but I just got my remote and base back from Lionel. The screen wouldn't turn off. That problem was fixed and in the notes the tech said he fixed the charging circuit. Not sure if this has anything to do with this issue or not. Thanks for the help. 

harbor freight batteries are in my experience 1/16 on an inch short and do not make good contact.  while you could bend the tabs I do not like to do this unless a last resort.

I used Duracell from Costco.  the Kirkland brand do not last as long either. 

I didn't think of Duracell. I'll check those out. I'd imagine NiMH batteries would be the kind to get. How long do the Duracells last? 

I've been using Energizer NIMH batteries for several years charged in an external charger. They last quite awhile. I've also found I can see well enough with the backlight turned off which greatly increases the battery life.

I really don't understand what Lionel was thinking when it comes to powering the Legacy handheld. The old TMCC handheld took 4 batteries and doesn't have a digitital display or backlight.

Why would they increase the power demand and shrink the supply?

sinclair posted:

I've just been recharging the factory batteries in an external charger.  Once they no longer hold a charge I'll be going to what I have in my Cab-1 remotes, rechargeable Duracells (Which I have used in my Cab-2s when the factory batteries are charging and I want to run a train.).

My factory batteries don't like to charge in the base for some reason. In the base the lights flash correctly for about a minute then both flash together. I can issue about 3 commands then the remote shuts off. The batteries will meter out at 1.35 volts every time.

Last edited by Trainlover9943

hi I ran into the same issue only used the legacy remote twice just to make sure it worked but only charged 3 lines the  first time I used it and then put it away for quite a while when I tried it again maybe 4 to 6 months later remote would not come on at all checked batteries with meter without load showed 1.34 on 2 battery's and 1.25 on other battery . then  I left in  its own base overnight and next day still remote would not turn on but base  showed green light did not may any sense. so I took batteries out these are the original batteries that came with cab 2 legacy remote n base. so I took batteries out and charged in a separate energizer charger that  will charge 4 batteries at a time had  to install one other so 4 were in charger. left on overnight and then they fully charged. put back in remote and powered up cab 2 and everything worked fine in fact showed 4 bars now and fully charged remote then worked ok!

my question does the base not charge there batteries like it should I purchase the brand new from major retailer!

Alan

Last edited by Alan Mancus
RickO posted:

.....................

I really don't understand what Lionel was thinking when it comes to powering the Legacy handheld. The old TMCC handheld took 4 batteries and doesn't have a digitital display or backlight.

Why would they increase the power demand and shrink the supply?

My logic might be flawed here, but I would suspect the change in the number of batteries was due to different voltage needs of the various chips that are in the remote, not how long the batteries last (mA hours).  There could be chips with lower voltage in the Legacy remote (that could be met with 1.5 volts x 3 = 4.5 volts, regulated /dropped to something less like maybe 3 volts) than there were in the original CAB-1, when the standard for most chips was probably still 5 volts (1.5 volts x 4 = 6 volts, probably regulated/dropped to 5 volts).

-Dave

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