Return of Cab1L and Base1L System, 12 Weeks and Still Waiting **Completed**

There is no reason they shouldn’t be able to fix or replace it. To say the least they take their sweet time. I put in a parts order first week of June, it arrived last week of June.

@zhubl posted:

There is no reason they shouldn’t be able to fix or replace it. To say the least they take their sweet time. I put in a parts order first week of June, it arrived last week of June.

@zhubl,

There's probably no good excuse for not informing a customer about progress or lack thereof, but yes there is a very plausible reason for not fixing it:

            Perhaps they can't get the parts necessary to do so?

Have you heard of the ongoing electronic components shortage?

Mike

Mike your not wrong their communication is sub par to be nice. parts could also be a real problem. I had a Cab-1L with a similar issue that eventually was replaced by a brand new one but who know if they still have that option.

What Mike pointed out is my concern.  I believe somewhere on the forum I saw a similar problem, and Lionel corrected it by reloading some software or firmware.  That was my hope, and I can't imagine it taking this long if that would have fixed it.  I believe that my case is on the bottom of someone's 'what to do next?' pile.

Then again, parts and labor shortage are effecting everybody.

I talked to a nice representative at Lionel Support just now.  She didn't know the status, and she could not get in touch with a technician.  She said she would send me an update before the end of the day.  About an hour later I got a message from them.  They said they are waiting on a component, and would get back to me before the end of the week.

While I would like my stuff sooner rather than later, I can wait.  I like to be kept informed.

@texgeekboy posted:

While I would like my stuff sooner rather than later, I can wait.  I like to be kept informed.

I think this is the most important aspect.  Just let me know what's happening.

@texgeekboy posted:

I talked to a nice representative at Lionel Support just now.  She didn't know the status, and she could not get in touch with a technician.  She said she would send me an update before the end of the day.  About an hour later I got a message from them.  They said they are waiting on a component, and would get back to me before the end of the week.

While I would like my stuff sooner rather than later, I can wait.  I like to be kept informed.

Well, the "waiting for a component" in today's environment is a good dodge, that's for sure!  I'm going to have to start using that one.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, the "waiting for a component" in today's environment is a good dodge, that's for sure!  I'm going to have to start using that one.

And, when your component finally arrives and the job is completed, don't forget to add a 10% upcharge as an "inflation adjustment surcharge."

I got word yesterday that they finished my case.  The base was working sporadically, so they replaced the base.  It is supposed to be shipped by the end of the week.  No charge.

So, the "component" they were waiting for was a new base?

@texgeekboy posted:

I got word yesterday that they finished my case.  The base was working sporadically, so they replaced the base.  It is supposed to be shipped by the end of the week.  No charge.

A long wait, and I hope that it's resolved.  But don't do the victory dance until it's in your hands and you've tested it.

Sounds like a resolution.  I thought they weren't making bases (1L or Legacy) other than the forthcoming Base 3, so they must have some in stock for this purpose, perhaps?

I will give a summary of what I get back some time next week.  It may take me a bit since this is the first command control system I will have ever used.  I expect I'll be reading up about it right here on OGR!

I opened up the product boxes and lo and behold, there was no Cab1-L remote in its box.  I looked through everything and could not find it.  I called Lionel Support right away, and got through really quickly.  The service rep checked with the tech guys, and they promised to send one out today.  So, it'll be a few days before I can finally try it out.

Wow. That's a bit of an oversight.

@texgeekboy posted:

I opened up the product boxes and lo and behold, there was no Cab1-L remote in its box.  I looked through everything and could not find it.  I called Lionel Support right away, and got through really quickly.  The service rep checked with the tech guys, and they promised to send one out today.  So, it'll be a few days before I can finally try it out.

I ain’t got a dog in this fight, but I am curious, ….why did you wait 6 days or so to open the box??….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

I ain’t got a dog in this fight, but I am curious, ….why did you wait 6 days or so to open the box??….

Pat

Not the OP, but if he's like me, life gets in the way sometimes.

Or maybe he's only now getting around to posting about it.

I think assuming people did their jobs correctly is the "default" and not having to examine every shipment the day it arrives should be the norm, personally.

It's obvious that some manufacturers don't open every box they get with as many QC issues that are documented on this forum.

@harmonyards,

Pretty much what @rplst8 said, I had other stuff to do and did not expect Lionel to drop the ball so majorly. I will be more prompt on the next one as much as possible.

The Cab1-L was delivered on Sunday via FedEx.  It was in a whole new box.  The original box was returned to me empty, so perhaps they couldn't find the one that wasn't shipped and sent me a new one.  I really can't tell.

As I said this is my very first command system, so I got it out, followed the instructions for set up, and it worked very well.  I do have one problem.  This thread, "No Strobe in Command Mode, works fine in Conventional", is basically my problem.  The strobe and directional lighting can not be turned on in command mode.  When I take it off command mode, those lights work fine.  My unit is a NIB Milwaukee Road GP9, 6-18565.  It has TMCC, and its manual says buttons 8 & 9 control the strobe.  I tried the suggestions from @gunrunnerjohn in the above thread, and no joy.

As I've said before, I really like lights, so I would like to get this figured out.  Any thoughts?

UPDATE:  I tried some more stuff.  I did an aux1 -> engine reset, and the directional lights mostly work.  They're flaky though.  Still can't get the strobe to work no matter what.

Did you hit aux1 before hitting button 9?

@Vernon Barry,

Yep.  I posted an update after I wrote my previous post.  I've tried holding the aux1 button down while pressing 9, and simply pressing and release the aux1 button and then pressing 9.  No joy.

Also, AUX2 turns on and off all lighting features.

The reason why for hitting aux1- the CAB1l manual

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...7250CABandBASE1L.pdf

So if that did not enable it, then go back, put the engine into program mode, and follow the procedure to reprogram the engine "feature code".

It's part of setting the address, but a second step. You again, put the engine into program mode. Hit ENG and then the numeric address you want to make the engine. Hit the "Set" button at the bottom of the remote. Then hit aux1 to be sure the remote is in numeric mode and hit 5 for diesel with strobe. The horn should toot and not hitting set is required. Now power down and change to run.

Snippet of the typical TMCC ones from the larger PDF attached

@rplst8 posted:

I think assuming people did their jobs correctly is the "default" and not having to examine every shipment the day it arrives should be the norm, personally.

I used to open packages when I got “aroundtuit”, but after finding several broken or inaccurately described items, after the return window had expired (my fault, I know), I now open, inspect, and run all items as soon as they are received.

@Vernon Barry,

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions.  I've tried them all, but still no strobe when in command mode.  However, this may be my doing.  I took out all the incandescent lights in the engine and replaced them with LEDs, including the strobe.  Perhaps the LED isn't returning something the circuit board needs to see in order for it to work with the command mode.  I'll look into that further.

Thanks again.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

I used to open packages when I got “aroundtuit”, but after finding several broken or inaccurately described items, after the return window had expired (my fault, I know), I now open, inspect, and run all items as soon as they are received.

It’s good advice, just not something I live by from packages from a trustworthy sender.

@texgeekboy posted:

@Vernon Barry,

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions.  I've tried them all, but still no strobe when in command mode.  However, this may be my doing.  I took out all the incandescent lights in the engine and replaced them with LEDs, including the strobe.  Perhaps the LED isn't returning something the circuit board needs to see in order for it to work with the command mode.  I'll look into that further.

Thanks again.

Mystery solved.  Put a .01uf ceramic capacitor across the strobe output and you will magically get your strobe back.  Of course, you may also have the polarity of the LED reversed.

Remember, the strobe output is positive in respect to frame ground, and the lighting outputs (front and rear) are negative in respect to frame ground.

Actually I pay attention to what you say. I did have a capacitor there, a suggestion of yours from another post, but your polarity may be in the mark. But I’m sure I connected the positive terminal of the LED to the positive wire. I’ll look into that tomorrow. I’m off into ‘honey-do’ land for the rest of the day.

Well, the reason the strobe would work in conventional is that the triac puts out full-wave track power, but in command it puts out half-wave track power.  That being the case, it sure sounds like the polarity is wrong if you have the capacitor installed.

New Book Idea

O Gauge Control Systems: Freddie Kruger Returns

John

@gunrunnerjohn,

My understanding is the long prong on the LED is 'positive'.  I run the wire from the 'power' side of the train connection to the resistor, connect the wired resistor to the 'positive' prong of the LED, then connect the capacitor after the resistor to the positive and negative prongs, and then run a wire from the negative prong to the 'ground' side of the train connection.  Both the power and ground wires for the Flashing bulb come from a connector that goes into a circuit board connection for only that flashing light.  For that connection I've assumed that the black wire is the 'ground' and the red wire is 'hot', or power.  If that's the case, that's how I set it up initially.

Please excuse my rudimentary terminology.  Hopefully it makes sense to you.

I can't comment on how it's wired without seeing it, but if the light flashes in conventional mode and not in command mode, I suggest swapping the polarity of the connection and seeing if that fixes it.

Thanks @gunrunnerjohn, swapping the polarity for the strobe did indeed fix it so it strobes in command mode and conventional.  Everything is now running on my engine through the Cab1-L so I can go onto my next project.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the feedback, nice to close the loop.