Lionel ZW L No Green Light and Flickering "Lionel" Lights

Try the ZWL in "conv" mode.  If it is working in that mode, then you have a problem with the TMCC signal.  The "Lionel" logo flickering is the key that indicates weak signal.

If you have a problem with the TMCC signal (ZWL works in conv mode), check your ground on the wall adapter for the Legacy Base.  Make sure the "U" terminal is connected together on the base and ZWL.

Thanks for the info Jon.  I tried the ZW L in conventional mode and it works fine (Both of them).  I checked the plug on the Legacy base (and even changed different outlets) but that didn't solve the issue.

I re-striped the wire running from the Legacy base going to the Command Base Binding post on the ZW L and it is making a solid connection.       

Now the lighted "Legacy" on the front of the Legacy base (Which seemed to be Ok initally) is flickering like the "LIONEL" on the front of the ZW L.  A short time after that the Red lights on the base started flashing.  I've shut off the base and ZW L and turned them back on several times but now the remote cannot find the Legacy base.

What is strange is that the base seemed fine yesterday and only the "Lionel" on the front of the ZW L's were flickering.  I guess it's possible that I didnt notice the "Legacy" on the front of the Legacy base flickering but the Red lights on the base were definetly not flashing until now.

What I find strange is that I was operating for two weeks with no issues.  At that time the ZW L's and Legacy base were on the floor.  I completed the bench for the transformers and the Legacy base, and moved the ZW L's and Legacy base to the bench about 15 feet away from where they were on the floor. (See Photos where all lights were solid).  I hooked everything up and it all worked fine for about half the day and then the flickering started. 

I ran an extension cord back to the outlet I was using when everything was on the floor but it did not correct the issue.     

Could this be an issue with the Legacy base? 

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Angelo    

Angelo

I am no where near the tech guy that can help you. I just can't wait to here the answer.

The one thing that stands out is:

I hooked everything up and it all worked fine for about half the day and then the flickering started.

What did you do on the layout that half day?

Could it have effected you work?

I'm sorry I just had to ask.

Angelo,  I think the Legacy base is not working.  Is it possible for you to test the base at a friends or at a local club??

Jon, I don't have anyone nearby.  I'm thinking I should probably call lionel and get an RMA.  

Larry, that's just it all I did was assemble the bench to get the transformers off the floor.  Once I did that I just ran the train around what is built of the layout so far.  Before I knew it hours had passed!

Angelo

Jon,

I'm going to setup a loop of track and bring one of the ZW L's and the Legacy base upstairs and see if they work there Before calling Lionel.  

Angelo

Just a thought.... Have you tried turning the Legacy base on first, and then the ZW-Ls once the Legacy base has started-up?

There may be an issue with the batteries in the CAB-2 and/or the charging circuits for the batteries in the base.  Pull the nimh batteries and replace those with good alkaline or Lithium Ions and place a small piece of paper in the cradle to cover the contacts in the cradle.  Turn the base over and flip the charger switch to the off position (the piece of paper in the cradle keeps the batteries from discharging).  If the system starts working properly you can try a new set of nimh batteries.  

If the problem isn't with the batteries then the unit will have to go back to Lionel for service.

It should unless the charging circuits are overheating the base.  That's what happened to my unit.

Are the base and handheld set to the same channel? Have you tried a different channel? Doublecheck in case you inadvertently change one or the other, they have to be on the same channel.

Do you still have your old TMCC set,  if you hooked TMCC up and it worked then your narrowing it down to the legacy the base pretty fast.

Have had two that wouldn't charge right out of the box, one the base did work with batteries in the Cab-2, seconds screen was a mess of weird symbols, they went back.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've been traveling for work and will try all of the suggestions this weekend. 

Ok, could not wait for the weekend so round two: 

I tried plugging the Legacy base directly (Without the power strip) to a wall outlet which was much farther away from where I was plugging it in and that solved the TMCC signal issue.  Then I tested it by using a different power strip so I could turn it on and off without unplugging it and it continued to work fine.  So there must be a grounding issue with the outlets nearset to the ZW L's.  

I don't use the rechargable batteries so I had the charging switch turned off.  The flashing red lights on the legacy base were caused by me turning the charging switch back on by mistake and not realizing it while I was trying to troubleshoot the TMCC signal issue.  That was stupid of me........  

Anyway, I tested everything several times and it is working well now.

Thanks for all of the help!

Angelo 

That's great, curiosity has killed the cat before. Trains are so much fun (Most of the time)

I'm happy to hear that it's all working now.  It's surprising how often a simple thing such as a wonky ground connection can cause so much anguish until it is discovered.  

Glad you got things working Angelo! Having said that power strips causing signal issues has come up on the forum before. It could be the first power strip as opposed to the outlet.

TMCC/Legacy transmits one side of the signal through the ground lug of the command base wall wart to the ground wiring of the room its plugged into. Its "broadcast" from the ground wires in the walls so the locomotive can "see it".

Some(not all) power strips degrade the signal.

Hi Guys, 

I wanted to post an update to this.  Shortly after I had posted this the same issues started happening again, so I decided to send it back to Lionel. I received it about two weeks ago and it's working great.  Here's a list of what they replaced:

Resistor / SMT / 20 OHM 1/8 Watt

Fuse / Bourns / SMT / 1.50 AMP 63 Volt

Diode / Zener / SMT / 5.1 Volt 500 MW

PCB / Charging Circuit / Legacy Base

PCB / Communications / Legacy Base

The notes from the technician stated that "during testing the base lost communications from base to track".  

Lionel did an excellent job of repairing this and getting it back to me.