Cab 2 charging

Due to Cab-2 "overheating issues", I took out the rechargeable batteries and replaced them with standard AA Duracell USA made batteries, in both my Cab-2 controllers. I threw the 993 charging base in the trash more than a year ago, and have had no troubles since with either Cab-2.

Ditto...I did the same thing, and with no subsequent problems.

I had a problem like that with mine, sent it back to Lionel. they repalced an electronic part, has been fine since then. fred

Call Lionel.  They have a specific battery they recommend.

I have both the #990 and the #993.  The #990, even after a couple trips to Lionel, still doesn't charge as well as the #993.  I've since turned off the charger and now just charge both remotes in the #993.  It doesn't get them hot like the #990 does.

So far I just use normal alkaline batteries in the #990's remote, and turn the charger off in the base. I always unplug all of my transformers/command bases when I'm not running my trains, so I doubt I'll ever have much use for the rechargable batteries.

Gunrunner,

I agree with you. I do exactly the same thing. I use the 993 to charge the batteries!!

Fredstrains

I've posted this before but I use a charger made by Apple computer. It comes with 6 NiMH batteries for 30 bucks. I used it to charge the batteries for the Cab 2 and they still read full charge after 6 weeks. Cheaper than a 993 base.

Pete

If you don't want to use the Lionel built in charger you can easily turn it off and try any of the following

1) Plain old AA alkaline batteries

2) Lithium AA batteries

3) Any rechargeable batteries with any external charger

As Marty said Lionel does have some specific recommendations if you want to replace rechargebale batteries that are in the CAB-2 and still use the 990. The last recommendations I got were to use the same ones that came with the CAB-2 that you can  order online (I think the website is on the battery) or the green Radio Shack rechargeable batteries

I was told NOT TO USE any of the new pre-charged batteries such as Sanyo Eneloops if I want to charge from the base. Which is sad because those are awesome batteries.

I did send my base in 2 times for the charger fix. Mine was one of the original 990's that came with the Big Boy. The first repair worked until I tried the eneloops. The second fix has worked for over 6 months using the stock batteries. I have not noticed any heat problem.

Personally if I was not willing to send the unit in to get fixed I would just go get an external charger and buy 8 Eneloops batteries. You will not have any problems as long as you turn off the base charger and tape over the contacts in the cradle.

I don't like removing and replacing the batteries, which is why I'd like the charger to work.

MY Solution:

I purchased an Energizer smart charger and a set of their rechargeable batteries. I do NOT use the 990 charger (it is turned OFF) and do NOT place my Cab 2 in the 990 cradle. Thusly, NO heat buildup.

I have encountered NO problems in exchanging the Energizer rechargeable batteries as needed. I do it quickly (one at at time) and have experienced NO loss of settings.

Works for me! 

KISS = "Keep It Simple, Simon". 

You won't lose the settings even if you replace them slowly.   The settings are in non-vol memory.

If you put tape over the charger contacts after shutting it off, you can store the Cab2 in the Legacy base with no worries.

I second the reccomendation on the Eneloop batteries (and an external charger - I have a smart charger to get the max life from my rechargeables).  I use them in everything that requires AA batteries.  Haven't bought a single use AA in years except for the lithium ones in my external weather station.

Andy

I agree, however some people just don't trust the charging system. Ever since I had it repaired the 2nd time I have had no issues with it

Ive pretty much given up on rechargeable batteries.....period. I've found that pretty much anything with rechargeable batteries, or an internal rechargeable system of some kind gradually lose the ability to recharge to their fullest capacity. Each time they are recharged, they lose a little more capacity.

I really prefer Lithium batteries because I think they have about 4 times the life of an Alkaline battery, but they are on the pricey side, so I usually buy the "Large Economy" pak of reguar Alkalines (I wait for them to go on sale) and just throw a new set in once the charge line on my remote gets below the half way mark. They seem to last a decent amount of time, and the cost really isn't all that much if you buy the batteries when they are on sale.

REV 

No issues, but the CAB2 charging in the #990 gets a bit too warm for my liking, so I have taken to using the #993.  That works great and when I fetch the CAB2 out of it, it's cool, no overheating here.

That's what I did, even through I also shut off the switch on the bottom of the base.  Just a bit of extra "insurance."  The alkaline batteries I use now (I buy them in bulk quantities when on sale) have held up very well.

Have they fixed the charging issues with the newer 990 sets?  I just ordered one from Charles Ro today.  If not, I'll just use regular AA batteries like my club does.

The new sets were supposed to get the new charging circuit.  I can say that after they replaced the charging circuit in my two units they both charge properly.  The #990 gets the CAB2 pretty warm, so you may still want to stick to using another solution.

I'll have to wait until Dec 25 to try it  My parents agreed to buy me the set as a Christmas/Birthday present this year.  Figured we'd better order it early just in case.

i purchased my 990 in march. i had to send my unit back twice. once in march for not turning on and not charging batteries and the second time in april for the batteries not charging again. since april the charger has worked intermittenly and now has quit all together along with it can't find the base problem.

i am using v.1.51 i called lionel service 2 weeks ago they said it was the batteries that originally came with the set were bad. lionel sent me a new battery pack free of charge. this did not cure the problem. i am sending it in today for the third time and lionel said there would be a $40 charge if they find nothing wrong. i don't care who pays, i want it fixed. there is no reason for a battery charger not to work. i can't think of another item that i have ever owned that the battery charger didn't work.

This is the reason I use a smart charger, rather than the simple (cheap) chargers that come with most rechargeable AA/AAA battery systems.  The smart chargers have routines that will refresh old batteries to a like-new state.  I do not like systems that use odd or proprietary rechargeable batteries for the same reason you mention.  I use rechargeables in everything in my house that requires AA and AAA batteries (after the "free" batteries they come with are spent).  I have not purchased regular/alkaline AA and AAA batteries in years, and I have only had one rechargeable battery get bad enough that my smart charger couldn't refresh it to like-new state so far (and it was among the first rechargeable AA's I bought years ago).  For the record, I use a LaCrosse Technology BC1000, and I like it a lot.

Andy

Andy...

How long does it typically take to fully charge a set of batteries?

For batteries in new or like-new condition, my charger takes 2-5 hours at the settings I prefer (it can do faster, but this isn't good for the batteries).  Refreshing a battery that has lost its capacity to hold a charge takes a lot longer (1-3 days), but the results I've had have been good so far (I've only had to do this on some old Energizer rechargeables that I bought long ago, before I deiscovered the Sanyo Eneloops).

Here is a link to an Eneloop FAQ that has a lot of other useful info:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R9VPVQ0UO2MKH

Andy

Everyone I know gave up on the chargers and just use Alkaline batteries in their controllers. I go with Rev, rechargeable batteries have become a big pain in the ###. They seem to be used in everything. Next thing you know there will be no open outlets left in our homes..Jim

I sent mine back to Lionel, got it back in less then a weeks time and it works fine charging now. I thought I'd let those that caused the problem fix it, and they did.

Thanks for the info.  I have been happy with my rechargeables and quick charger but this looks like it is better.

I have been using the MAHA charger, also a very nice one with a quick, slow and recondition mode

Maybe I'd better test mine when it gets here then.  

Thats looks like a pretty decent unit. I really haven't looked at any of the "newer" types, and hadn't heard of the "refresh" mode you mention. As I said, in my experience, re-chargeable batteries just eventually lose their capacity. Thanks for pointing out this type of charger........it looks like technology is improving and maybe I'll look into further.

REV