Cab-2 Charging

I don't know what "insight" we could share here, other than your CAB2 is broken.   Without opening it up and seeing if it's something simple, there's really no way of actually predicting what you might find.

I got a CAB2 charging issue but mine won't even show any red lights when I put it in the 994 charger base.  I have 2 other Cab2s that are just fine.  I even interchanged the rechargable batteries and it doesn't make a difference.  This particular Cab2 was being used with Akaline batteries for a long while with a piece of electrical tape over the charging contacts just in case I was stupid enough to put it in the cradle.  Tape is off, cleaned the contacts, but nothing in the way of charging.  I put charged up batteries in the problem CAB2 (rechargeables or Akaline) and it works fine.  Just a charging issue.  Any ideas?

Also, I know this has also been discussed but...

Leaving CAB2 in the 994 charger that is plugged in continually.  Bad thing to do?  or not problem at all?  Thx.

if the tape came off was plugged in you may have damaged the charging circuit alkaline batteries are not designed to have a charging voltage applied. I can look at it for you if you want it repaired!

Alan

I never posted the conclusion of my efforts. In my case I am certain that the thermistor is the culprit in my case it’s just slightly different resistance than my other CAB-2’s. I believe it is a 10k thermistor, the thermistor is shoved Under the bottom metal contact of the middle battery. I had it all apart and played around with it and compared it to my other CAB-2’s. After witch it worked and it has started doing the same old thing again. Anyway in your case with no lights or anything and as long as other CABS work in the base I’d venture to guess there’s a loose wire inside the remote

@Alan Mancus posted:

if the tape came off was plugged in you may have damaged the charging circuit alkaline batteries are not designed to have a charging voltage applied. I can look at it for you if you want it repaired!

Lionel will fix them free, why pay for it?

Remaining question I have, is there a downside leaving a healthy CAB2 in the 994 base with green lights on solid?

I have not seen any problem with leaving the CAB2 on the base with 2 green lights.  My base powers up with the rest of the layout so sometimes it might left for an hour or two while I work on other things.  I have noticed that the CAB2 will be warm if charging but cool if the lights are green.  This tells me that the charging circuit is working properly.

I turned off my base charger the the day I got it and couldn't be happier .

Leaving it on 24-7 seems like a bad idea. Especially in this day of "questionable" Lionel support.

Some good rechargable batteries from Energizer ,and an external charger ,and away you go. Save the remote and base to run the trains.

It's only an extra 10 seconds out of my life to r&r the batteries.

I charge in the #993 charging base, not the #990.  My expereience is that charging in the #990 gets the CAB2 hotter than I like, and even if I charge until it's fully charged, it's still hot hours later.  OTOH, charging in the #993, when it's charged, it's stone cold after the charge cycle is complete and you have the green lights.

GRJ-

My thoughts exactly on the 993.  My healthy CAB2 is cold after leaving in the cradle overnight and lights are green.  I guess the key thing is a working charging circuit such that the lights turn green.  Thanks for weighing in as I'm concerned about being lazy and leaving the 993/CAB2 for 1 to 2 weeks.

Also, would rather not mess with pulling the rechargeable batteries out to charge them.  That's what the 993 base is for after all.

Thanks!

The 993 is a good option for someone who owns/ wants/ needs a second Legacy handheld.

Otherwise, its a very expensive solution to a problem that can be remedied for far less than $300, and a "bit" of manual labor.

https://www.amazon.com/Energiz...606062348&sr=8-3

@RickO posted:

The 993 is a good option for someone who owns/ wants/ needs a second Legacy handheld.

Otherwise, its a very expensive solution to a problem that can be remedied for far less than $300, and a "bit" of manual labor.

https://www.amazon.com/Energiz...606062348&sr=8-3

Agreed but the 993 is sexier than a wall charger AND serves a purpose.  Model Railroading ain't cheap but this would be a place where one COULD economize.  My questions were around any danger of regularly using the 993 and the effect on the life of a CAB2.  I'm trying to get away from the wall charger and having to remove the batteries.

As others have stated I see no issue use it the 994 base as a charger as that’s the only electronics in it. It works very well and as long as the green lights are in solid the charging circuit is off. That being said I wouldn’t leave it plugged in all the time. I can confirm that the 991 base has a heat sink right under the remote. It is part of the base electronics and will get warm no matter if a CAB-2 is charging or not

@zhubl posted:

I can confirm that the 991 base has a heat sink right under the remote. It is part of the base electronics and will get warm no matter if a CAB-2 is charging or not

Correct, so anytime the CAB2 is sitting in the base, it's getting significantly warmed up by the base electronics.  That's my major squawk with charging with the #990.  It's not good to run those batteries at elevated temperatures, that's not doing them any good.

I use regular alkaline batteries and run them all the way down to where the backlight does not come on. Then I change them.
What is nice is the regular batteries show on the 3 part power icon.

Also, I do use an external charger unit for the rechargeable batteries. The base charger is turned off and/or put a piece of black electrical tape on the contacts if I forget that I had regular alkaline batteries in the remote.

Getting to that age of forgetfullness!

@Ted Bertiger posted:

What is nice is the regular batteries show on the 3 part power icon.

What's not so nice is buying them regularly to replace the dead ones.

Rick O is right on target.  Use a charger and have two sets of batteries, always one set charged and ready to go when the other is depleted.  Have never used the Charger Base and always have a set of charged batteries.  Total cost--less than $20.00. 

I have a question, and hope this is the right spot. I bought the #990 hand held and base, then I bought a #993 hand held and charger.  I had the CTC button on one of the hand heldd go bad, so I contacted Lionel to get it repaired. They gave me an RMA# and told me I had to send the base in with it. It's now been 12 weeks so I called them; they said they should get to it this week.

Going 3 months without being able to run trains is a real drag! Since this might happen again, I'm trying to find a #992 base for sale - just to have it to send in if the other hand held needs repair.

I have not been able to find just the base for sale. Can it be ordered from Lionel as a spare part? If so does anyone know the part number I would use to order?

@DavidR posted:

I have not been able to find just the base for sale. Can it be ordered from Lionel as a spare part? If so does anyone know the part number I would use to order?

I have never seen just the base for sale, only the set or the #993.  I actually bought an extra #990 set so I'd never be in the state you're in.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

What's not so nice is buying them regularly to replace the dead ones.

Yup. I think my remote is having an issue. The battery meter never moves and goes through batteries super quick.

@DavidR posted:

I have a question, and hope this is the right spot. I bought the #990 hand held and base, then I bought a #993 hand held and charger.  I had the CTC button on one of the hand heldd go bad, so I contacted Lionel to get it repaired. They gave me an RMA# and told me I had to send the base in with it. It's now been 12 weeks so I called them; they said they should get to it this week.

Going 3 months without being able to run trains is a real drag! Since this might happen again, I'm trying to find a #992 base for sale - just to have it to send in if the other hand held needs repair.

I have not been able to find just the base for sale. Can it be ordered from Lionel as a spare part? If so does anyone know the part number I would use to order?

I can understand the frustration. I have a Cab-1L remote that’s been there for almost just as long. To answer your question the only way your getting a #991 base is in the #990 set. Unless someone breaks a set up but I find that unlikely. I did like GRJ and I have a 2nd set I got for under $200 on the bay. That way I have a spare set/ one for the work bench. Best recommendation I can give is either keep an eye out for a steal. I’ve even gotten a new set for $325 from a dealer with shipping. The other cheaper option is pick up a Cab-1L set. You’ll need the set, the #992 Cab-2’s won’t talk to the Cab-1L base but when you get your #991 Legacy base back you can use the Cab-1L as a quick simpler remote. Hope that makes since.

@Trainlover9943 posted:

Yup. I think my remote is having an issue. The battery meter never moves and goes through batteries super quick.

That is weird. I seem to remember a somewhat similar issue with a DCS remote some months back. But Lionel will fix those for free (assuming they don’t just sit on a shelf) so best just to call and get a RA

My 990 is a year old and one of the lights burned out, I think all it does is light up the Lionel name on the side of the unit. Do I need to replace the bulb? Does that mean something else is wrong? If I take it apart to change the bulb is my warranty void? TIA

I'd just leave it alone if everything is working, is it really worth it to risk screwing it up for a cosmetic defect?

@RickO posted:

I turned off my base charger the the day I got it and couldn't be happier .

Leaving it on 24-7 seems like a bad idea. Especially in this day of "questionable" Lionel support.

Some good rechargable batteries from Energizer ,and an external charger ,and away you go. Save the remote and base to run the trains.

It's only an extra 10 seconds out of my life to r&r the batteries.

Ditto... I don 't know about yours ...but, using the base charger gets my CAB2 really HOT!   I can't imagine all the heat is good for the circuitry or the lcd.   I use the energizer batteries and charging unit  as well.  Also, Ray's (sidehack) CAB1 & CAB2 holders are a pretty handy addition.

I charge my CAB2's in the #993 charging base, they don't heat up the remote at all, when I come back to get it, it's at room temperature.  I never charge in the command base.

@Genoz posted:

My 990 is a year old and one of the lights burned out, I think all it does is light up the Lionel name on the side of the unit. Do I need to replace the bulb? Does that mean something else is wrong? If I take it apart to change the bulb is my warranty void? TIA

Old thread I know.

I had the same thing on my 993 and Lionel gave me the option of an RMA or just ship me the part, all no charge.  I got the part, very simple replacement, life is great!

Thanks for your reply about the 993, May I ask was it just a bulb or is there a part that requires soldering?

No soldering