Legacy charging lights information

I don't know who told you that, but that's a total crock!  When the charge completes, the two lights are green!  It does not continue to charge, at least it shouldn't.  Both my #990 and the #993 charging base get steady green lights when the charge is complete.  I normally charge in the #993 as it doesn't have the other electronics generating heat.  When I come back in the morning after it charges all night, the remote is cool and the lights are steady green.

That would be, Lionel Customer Service.

The charging system is the "weakest link" of Lionels legacy system.

 

Even when it works it heats up the base and remote, due to the combined warming of the batteries and the normal warming of the base when its on.

 

Shut off the charger, put a piece of electrical tape over the terminals for good measure and charge the batteries in another charger or use disposables.

This thread has been properly ripened and ready for pickin' for AlanH to post a diatribe on another forum.

Yep, I can hear the howling now. 

 

OTOH, I stand by my comment, after mine made the requisite number of trips back to Lionel, the chargers both work, but the #993 doesn't get the CAB2 warm when I come back after the charge, but the CAB2 will be pretty warm after the charge completes in the #990, even after an extended period of sitting with the green lights on and the charge finished.  That's why I have disabled it's charger and taped the contacts.

 

I'm guessing part of the issue with the #990 is the fact that the CAB2 gets pretty warm powered off and not changing in the base with just the base powered.  So, the batteries are already starting behind the "curve" as far as overheating during the charge.  I'm guessing also that's why the #993 does so well charging.

I plan on tuning off the charger, and using nonrechargable batteries.

Problem solved.

Lithium AA's work pretty good. Or you can get an external charger and a few more rechargeables and take that route

I didn't think so either,thats why I posted the topic.

I had to send it to Lionel last year for a charger problem and a Cab2 issue.

The charger worked fine untill a week or so ago, then both red lights rremained on

continuosly. Thats when I sent to Lionel.

You were advised the correct information. The charger is either on or off. If the cab is in the base and is powered up the battery power is being consumed. The charger alternates red flashing until the batteries are charged up. Providing all 3 batteries are good the lights will change to a steady green, if the cab is on those green lights will turn off and begin alternating red, signifying the charger is charging the batteries. If the lights flash a steady red the charger is working correctly and has entered a "fail" state because the charger detected het above the allowable limit. When you get two steady (non-alternating) red lights you need to remove the cab from the base to allow it to cool down. If the problem persists then you likely have a bad/failing battery. Sure glad Gunrunnerjohn is here with all the speculative expert advice about how the same staff that works so hard to help everyone is feeding you "crock"! Believe it or not, we actually support this system for the entire hobby. As such we know when a product rolls through the door whether the product is the problem or the problem is not the product! Mike Lionel

Thanks Mikado, for the tips on using the charging system.

I didn't mean to come across as dissing the Lionel service dept.

I didn't know that I had to remove the remote to solve the problem.

This has never happened to me before, so I learned something new.

 

 

I forgot to mention that the remote was off when the red lights were on steady.

Does the charger remain on at all times, or should it shut off automatically?

Thanks

When the 2 red lights flash at the same time is that too much heat or too high voltage? Mine does this all the time even with new batteries. However, all remotes charge normally in the 993 base.

 

Good morning

It is a good practice to shutt power off on chargers when not in use for a long period of time. This will extend the life of the equipement. The charger base and power transformer are often fixed under the train table in an enclosed space. In case of excess heat try to improve ventilation in the cabinet (small computer power supply fan).

John

The question of why the 993 keeps the CAB-2 so much cooler than the 990 was bought up at the last Legacy meeting. The heat difference has to do with the Legacy components and not the charging system