No need to remove the batteries, the remote "goes to sleep" when not used for a period of time, even when running trains if no buttons have been pressed or the knob has not been turned. If it "goes to sleep" when running trains AUX1 will "wake it up. Batteries will not recharge in the remote, having said that I've gotten "months" of use out of a set of batteries with the cab 1.

I've left batteries in them for months without them going flat.  They're in a very low power mode until you actually push a key.

 

I'm pretty sure the CAB1 doesn't use that jack for power, I think it's for a simple external switch to repeat an action.  I've never used it for anything.

That jack is for the Big Red Button.

 

 

Neil Young’s Big Red Button

That's it, I knew there was some simple interface involved.

 

Boggles the mind they charged $90 for a large switch!

I always take the batteries out of mine just to be safe. If the batteries leak you are SOL.

Do you take them out every day after you use it?  That seems extreme.  I take them out if it's going to be unused for an extended period of time.

Well, I don't get to use mine every day. So, it's always an extended period if time with me.

Just to be specific. Turning the red knob will not wake up the CAB-1 if it has gone to sleep. Pushing the black buttons will wake it up, but not turning the knob.

I'm talking like a month or more.   I have the CAB1/base on my workbench to test trains in the roller blocks, so it doesn't get used that often, but I don't feel the need to rip the batteries out.

 

One thing that can be done for battery life is to install a small slide switch on the unit and kill the power completely.  The shelf life of Alkaline batteries is many years, just check annually and replace them when the date rolls around that's printed on the battery.