Legacy remote charging or not?

George,

This has been a topic I've talked to a few people about.  Usually it requires a trip to Lionel Customer Service to be repaired.  Since you say you just bought it, they will fix it under the warranty.

 

Mine also does this also, but didn't happen until after the warranty was expired.    I now just use a 15 minute speed charger for the rechargeable batteries, swapping 2 sets as I need them.  Cheaper option than paying for it to be repaired.

 

Good luck

Lionel is not charging for this repair. Come to think of it I don't know of anyone paying for a repair of a Legacy system yet.  Most seem to be handled under warranty regardless of the purchase date and the issue.  Shipping one way is all that I know it would cost you.

 

Mine also does this also, but didn't happen until after the warranty was expired.    I now just use a 15 minute speed charger for the rechargeable batteries, swapping 2 sets as I need them.  Cheaper option than paying for it to be repaired.

 

 

Nick, Instead of going through the hassle of getting it repaired , I think I will go with your advice about the rechargeables Thanks George

Unless something had changed recently.  This is the first I have heard that there was a charge (excuse the pun) for fixing the charger issue.

No harm no foul Marty lol.   no I called last summer and my warranty was up in Feb. 2011.  news to me now!

I would double check.  It's quite possible the policy changed but I'm pretty sure as of last York it was still being repaired w/o charge.

George,

I had the same problem with our Legacy set, purchased new in mid-December. It took two trips back to Lionel service. Once I got it back, I simply decided to start using non-rechargable Lithiums as I don't really like leaving the base plugged in anyway.

Considering the long lifespan that I've seen on these, as well as all of the third party rechargeables out there, I'm kind of surprised that Lionel even bothered to include a built-in recharging system. Meaning that the remote doesn't seem to really "eat" through batteries very quickly.

I have the lastest Legacy , V1.4. The charger still does not

work correctly. The remote can stay in the charger for hours with

the red lights flashing and the remote getting hot.

 

Rayovac makes a charger that comes with 2 AA and 2 AAA batteries.

The charger will charge the batteries in 2 hours and then turns off.

The batteries do not heat up.

 

Why cannot Lionel put a charger like that in the Legacy base?

 

 

I have a #990 that Lionel fixed, and after the 3rd trip, it charges 100% of the time.  However, as observed, the remote gets uncomfortably hot, so I don't like to use that charger.

 

My #993 charger is on it's second trip, and I'm hoping to get that working for charging duties.  When it works, the remote charges and remains nice and cool.  However, recently it decided to greet me with the dual red blinking lights for either of the CAB2 remotes, even though the same remote will charge correctly in the #990.  If it gets fixed this time, I'd rather have the convenience of just dropping the remote into the cradle and have it charge.  I will then turn off the charger on the #990 and cover the contacts to avoid any interaction.

Like I said, I'd like to be able to simply drop them into the charger and not be taking the batteries out and in all the time.  If Lionel can fix it, I'll use it.  If not, I'll consider the alternatives.

I have turned off my charger and installed Duracells in the Cab-2. They seem to last a long time. My feeling is that the heat in the base and handheld from the charging operation is probably not good for the electronics.

The #993 charging only base doesn't get hot at all, that's why I want that one to work.   Although my #990 works to charge them, I also am concerned about the heat and the batteries.  The electronics won't have a problem, but the batteries may.

I have a Legacy and was told that I had no warranty and there was nothing that Lionel would do about the charging issue. So I went online and ordered some Duracell rechargable batteries and a plug in charger. I am just miffed about the reply that I got.

 

They have been fixing them for others.  My #990 works fine, but it gets the CAB2 pretty warm in the process, that can't be good for the batteries.  When the #993 worked, it was stone cold when it was done, so I'm hoping on it's second trip back they'll fix it.  If so, I'll just charge both remotes in the #993 charging base.

Odd, sent mine back yesterday for the charging issue, it's one of the original ones from the Big Boy set. Took all of 2 minutes to get an RMA, no charge

Well maybe I caught them on the wrong day but I have the email that states they will not do anything for me. Strange. Everything has always been top notch until now.

Was this a recent response?  I've sent both the command base and the #993 charging base back, no charge as of yet.

 

You turn it off under the #990 base.  I also recommend you put some black tape across the contacts, it seems to me that the remote discharges through the base if the power isn't on, I'm assuming the same may happen with the charger disabled.

I put the tape on the remote.  That way if I am at another layout and that charger is on, mine is protected.

Well, I don't think I'd worry that much about "unprotected charging".  After all, what's the chances I'm at another layout and stick my remote into their charging base?

I do it all the time.  I'd rather it be sitting in the cradle than on the edge of a layout.

Seaboard

 

Gunrunnerjohn has the info. Its also covered in the users manual. The tape is a good idea. I have a shelf under the layout that holds the Legacy base, the DCS TIU, ZW's The Hawking antenna and the external power supply for the TIU and a power strip. Next to all of that , I keep my DCS and Legacy handhelds when not in use.

 

I Dont keep the Cab 2 in a cradle and there is no cradle for the DCS handheld . So the shelf works just fine for me.

Does that hi-gain antenna help with the range?  So far I haven't had an issue, but I have several 7dB antennas in the drawer...

I have the hawking since the original Legacy version that was released originally. It helped with communication issues with that version and although my set has had both the Lionel factory upgrade and self installation of version 1.3 software  , I an just continuing to use it. I have no issues with loss of signal and communication  on my layout which is an area of 30 x 20 feet. I have not tried the Legacy with the original factory supplied antenna subsequent to hard and software upgrades.

After 1.3 came out many found the Hawking didn't do much anymore. I took mine off and never worried about it again

I haven't had a range issue, so I haven't tried any extra antennas.  I've actually carried the remote a couple of rooms away and was still in control of the trains.

I can also go into another room in the basement & have no problems, but I can be standing next to the board & have a problem & the problem isn't always in the same spot.  That is why I asked on another thread about exact locaton.

 

Ken M

Well, it's cheap to try the hi-gain antenna and see if it helps.  One benefit of the external antenna is you can move it around a bit to see where it works best.

Can you put regular disposable batts in the Legacy controller?

Yes, as long as you turn off the charging circuit. (And perhaps tape over the contacts) I use Lithiums and they seem to work well

I recently sent one of my cab 2's to Lionel for the stickey brake boost key issue. As it turned out Lionel replaced it with a new one. I have to say I am stunned as this cab 2 was the one I recieved with my bigboy. Hats off to Lionel. I have 3 other cab 2's so the layout was never down now I have 4 plus an extra legacy base. I guess I am prepared.

I recently sent one of my cab 2's to Lionel for the stickey brake boost key issue. As it turned out Lionel replaced it with a new one. I have to say I am stunned as this cab 2 was the one I recieved with my bigboy. Hats off to Lionel. I have 3 other cab 2's so the layout was never down now I have 4 plus an extra legacy base. I guess I am prepared.

Well, I got my #993 base back, the repair states they replaced the charging board.  It charges properly now, so they certainly did something.

Haven't you all learned by now?   Whenever anybody asks you when you bought something the answer is ALWAYS, "yesterday!"  

Out of the box mine would not charge the included batteries. I switched to Sanyo eneloop and it started working.

Funny I just got my base returned from Lionel and got chastised for using eneloops. They are great batteries so I am seeking a clarification