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BruceT47 posted:

 

Another option would be to purchase rechargeable batteries and a charger.

Good luck.

Bruce

This is the option I took.  IMO I don't like the idea of leaving the base powered up for hours to charge batteries.

Get yourself some good NMH Energizer batteries and an external charger.

I've been using the same batteries for years and my base can stay off when its not running trains.

Why tap over the contact in the base when you can just turn it over and turn the charging circuit off?  As for the handheld eating batteries, I haven't noticed if mine does, but then I don't use it a lot.  But I didn't like the heat the base generated when charging, so I turned the charger off and just use a battery charger I already had to charge the batteries when they need it.  I have LEGO trains and those eat batteries, so I've had a charger for those for a while.

Nick,

   Try leaving the Cab 2 either out of the Base Charging unit or up side down in it, when the batteries are already fully charged.  You are probably over charging your batteries repeatedly.  Damaging the Battery life.

My Legacy is on it's way back to Lionel, I just got the RA today.  Going to invest in a used 993 Cab2 for a back up, so I can switch the Cab2's into different bases as needed.

PCRR/Dave

Lionel is great standing behind the 990 and 993 units. No questions asked, RA issued and back to Lionel it goes. The idea of a back up 990 is a good one. Mine went back January 15th, called Lionel on Friday, February 16th for a status check and was told they had a few units ahead of mine. I wish I had thought of getting a back up. This is NOT a complaint as I have nothing to complain about, just lamenting not having a back up. One is on my list to buy.

I have no complaints about the life of the rechargeable batteries.

Mike

Why tape over the contact in the base when you can just turn it over and turn the charging circuit off?  As for the handheld eating batteries, I haven't noticed if mine does.

I have mine turned off but in that rare instance it gets turned back on, those regular alkalines won't like to be charged! I use my Legacy base at shows so it gets taken out and packed up quite a few times in a year's time.

As for regular alkalines, a 24 or 36 pack sold for $8 or $10 at Lowes some time ago so I just use the regular ones.

Last edited by Ted Bertiger
Ted Bertiger posted:

Why tap over the contact in the base when you can just turn it over and turn the charging circuit off?  As for the handheld eating batteries, I haven't noticed if mine does.

I have mine turned off but in that rare instance it gets turned back on, those regular alkalines won't like to be charged! I use my Legacy base at shows so it gets taken out and packed up quite a few times in a year's time.

As for regular alkalines, a 24 or 36 pack sold for $8 or $10 at Lowes some time ago so I just use the regular ones.

My switch was recessed, and it was kind of a pain to turn it off, so I can't imagine it getting turned back on accidentally.  And mine is about to get bolted down.  I just don't like using tape as it has always gotten sticky everywhere.

Gentlemen,

   One of the Engineering upgrades I believe Lionel should make to the 990 Legacy Base unit, is the Battery discharge capability.  This engineering discharge capability lets you leave the Cab2 in the 990 Legacy Base keeping the batteries fully charged at all times, and does not damage the batteries by over charging them.

PCRR/Dave 

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
Ted Bertiger posted:

Why tap over the contact in the base when you can just turn it over and turn the charging circuit off?  As for the handheld eating batteries, I haven't noticed if mine does.

I have mine turned off but in that rare instance it gets turned back on, those regular alkalines won't like to be charged! I use my Legacy base at shows so it gets taken out and packed up quite a few times in a year's time.

As for regular alkalines, a 24 or 36 pack sold for $8 or $10 at Lowes some time ago so I just use the regular ones.

You can get 4 alkaline batteries for a dollar at Dollar Tree and they seem to by just as good as Duracells, but I turn off the charger on my Cab 2 and only turn it on when the batteries are about half charged.

Drew Madere posted:

Food for though? what if Lionel is supporting Legacy because they are using us and the bass for data collecting methods on how the hobby runs there trains?

I really suspect that Lionel fixes the Legacy system simply because they know that without your command system running, you're kinda' unlikely to buy more Legacy or TMCC products!

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