Latest "Batch" of Legacy Command Sets

Mine went back three times for the charger.  It finally works now, but I normally charge in the #993 because it doesn't get hot charging the batteries.

I have heard the 993 charges cooler than the 990, I wonder why.  Although mine doesn't seem to get that warm in the 990

Well, the #990 has all the other stuff running, the #993 is strictly a charger.  When my #993 finishes a charge, the remote stays as cool as if it were not in the charger.  OTOH, in the #990, after the charge finishes, it's still pretty warm in the cradle when I take it out.

I have found the same scenario to be true.  Although, after about 1 month of operation, the #990 remote doesn't seem to get as hot as before.  More warm than hot.  It is Legacy 1.4 and all is working fine.

I still have 1.3, 1.4 has to wait until they actually release the black modules for general distribution.

I just got my 990, have not had a chance to install it and see how it does with all my other boxes.  In the mean time can someone tell me what the two blue modules do and the two white modules are for.  I plan on reading the manual while my wife has surgery today.

The Blue Modules are system software for the base and Cab 2.  Normally these should not be needed.  All future software upgrade will be done via the internet, the LSU software package and black writable modules.

The tan are what Lionel call Generic TMCC module.  IMO, they bring very little to the table.  They are used for setting the basic functions of a TMCC1 engine but IMO it's easier to enter the info manually.

Marty,

Thank-you.  I was just to curious to wait and read the manual

All,

What was your experience for first time charge?  I put the remote into the charger and I got slow red flash and now it has be on Fast Flash for 1.5 hours.  Should this been expected?  The instruction manual references a half hour for a complete charge.  I am thinking I am running 1.4 software since the modules I got in the box are labeled 1.4

Same thing with my new legacy 1.4.

The charger acts the same way, so I turned it off.

I may send it in to Lionel soon, but I'm still learning

how to use it.

I had the same problem with my new V1.4 unit too. The batteries also became very warm indeed.

I solved this by taking out the supplied batteries, and replacing them with a set of Apple rechargeable batteries. (As used in my mouse/keyboard/trackpad etc.)  These are a slightly lower capacity (1900mAh), and seem to put less strain on the charging circuitry as it doesn't get hot anymore, and charges beautifully.

I thought I was making progress.  I had to go out for awhile and while out I switched the base off(?) by flipping the switch underneath.  When returning I turned it back on and I got the Fast Alternate Flashing.  Shortly after I got the Fast Green alternate flashing.  It then in the next breath went solid Red.  Now after some cooling of it is back to FAST Alternate Red Flashing.  OH Well

I think I have it or maybe just a self-revelation.  The error condition of the system is too warm to charge is not really an error condition.  It is more of a warning / information message to remove the remote from the base and let it cool down.  When cooled down return it to the base and continue charging. 

I did this and the remote batteries finally went fully charged.  Now when I go to use the remote I remove it from the charger and use it to run trains.  When I return it to the base it now charges but I keep an eye on it to see if the high temperature WARNING appears, if it does I take it out of the charger and replace it when it cools down.  This is akin of trying to charge a cellphone in a hot car.  Heat shuts down the charging circuitry.  Cool the car down with air conditioning and the cellphone begins to charge.  I have not experimented with the remote to see if the charging circuitry shuts down until the remote cools and then begins to charge again.  Has anyone else seen this happen and determined that base quits charging when the High Temperature Error/Warning comes on?  If this is the case just leave the remote in the charger and let it work through its kwirks.

That's exactly why I charge both of them in the #993 charger, the #990 gets them too warm for my liking.  Since they replaced the charging circuit in my #990, it will charge at the first attempt, but when I come back later and it's charged, it's still way warmer than I like.

I sent mine off for the upgrade and the charger didn't work when I got it back.
Back to lionel and now it's fixed . I bought a EverReady15 minute quick charger for AA batteries at lowes or wal-mart I can't remember but it works like a charm.
It'll charge 4 batteries at a time so I keep about a dozen in the train room in a tray.
When  they go dead I pull em out put 3 new ones in from the tray and put the dead ones in the charger.
You can leave this charger plugged in all the time because it only works when it's got a battery in it. Once they're charged back to the tray.
I just leave the charger on the 990 off it still gets very hot in the charging mode and with the 15 minute charger around it's not worth the effort.

David

The reason I like the #993 charger is it doesn't exhibit any overheating issues, and I don't have to fumble with the batteries, I just alternate the CAB2 that's in there for charging.

I use the 993 for charging also. Seems like a no brainer device in this day and age, but I suppose Lionel has it married to the controller and it would cost to redesign the whole thing.

What's an "Apple" battery?  

These are the batteries that come with the Apple battery charger.

http://store.apple.com/us/prod...L/A?fnode=MTY1NDEwMQ

I think that they are great batteries, and rather a bargain too. 6 batteries and a charger for $29 

Nicole.

What's the exact RS battery they recommended?

I'm guessing these, based on this from Mike Reagan "as well as the green metallic wrapped rechargeable batteries that Radio Shack sells works well in the Legacy handheld."

MartyE

I have not even took my new 990 out yet but, based on this forum I purchased a NiMH Energizer charger. The batteries it charges are NH-15 AA 1.2V/ 2300mAH. The only difference is the other one says 2500mAH.  Does that sound like a bad idea for me to use the Energizer?

Larry W. Peterson

Erwin TN.

They seem to be real picky about which batteries will work with the charger.  One wonders why the cheap $10 charger you can buy anywhere will charge any battery, but the one in the Legacy base can only deal with a couple of specific batteries?

For what ever it's worth I just opened my new 990 and here is what's on the batteries that came with the new set.

GP NiMH

Rechargeable

NiMH AA 2450mAH

250AAHC 1,2v min. 2400Mah

Standard Charging  16 hrs AT 240Ma

www.gpbatteries.com

product of Golden Peak Group

(NOT FOR RETAIL SALE)

Larry

That's the batteries that Lionel sent me when they returned my unit as well.

AS M.R. Explained it to me because the case has no ventilation it has a heat sensor in it. When it senses to much heat it shuts the charging circuit off . once it cools down it resumes the charging and he said it will get warm.
To me it's not worth the aggravation of fooling with it. I can charge the battery's in an external charger and not worry about cooking anything.
I don't have a need for the 996 and the EverReady was about 15 bucks and the EverReady will charge the higher capacity batteries.

David

I really don't buy the "brand of battery" recommendations. It's a poorly designed or manufactured charger and finessing the brand of batteries is a band-aid. They have to say something when they are stuck with a product like this has been.

But whatever...I'm in favor of moving on, turning off the charger (seems like some foresight here as to the design), and using whatever we have that works. Replaceable or re-chargeable batteries with a charger that we can buy at Target.

I agree Chuck, it's a poorly designed charger.  I just work with what I have.

My LHS is sending my unit back for a display problem.  Is there a quick turn on the repair of the 990?

I think it took about a week or less one I sent back for a bad display.  I think they sent me a different one that worked.

Thanks for the Info cjack