After the Christmas Holidays I will take down my trains and store everything till next year. That means the 990 & 993 will not see an electric charge till next November again. Do the cab units themselves save any programed information if the batteries are removed for the summer? I assume the best way to save any of that would be with a Black Module but when will they be available? Momma woun't allow the trains to stay up till June!
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Is there a reason to remove the batteries?
Nothing will be lost, but it wouldn't hurt to make a backup on a black module.
You must have missed my Free Black Modules for Legacy, you can roll your own from some left-over Blue upgrade modules. 
I'd remove the batteries for sure.
I did read the post on Free Black Modules but prefer not to chance messing up something right now. I only have the 4 modules that came with the 990 & 1 with the the 993. I never leave batteries in the things I leave in the garage for the summer. Concerned about leakage pennsyk4.
I did read the post on Free Black Modules but prefer not to chance messing up something right now. I only have the 4 modules that came with the 990 & 1 with the the 993.
Well, not much to mess up. Those modules are worthless once you've done the upgrade, so there's not much risk.
Black modules are not really the place to back up your legacy database, back the 990 base up to your computer and your regular back up.
The black modules will back up engine profiles but not the entire base. Also the modules are written to each time so they are not real secure place to store backups.
I'd remove batteries just because I don't trust them, although I am not sure if rechargeable batteries leak like other batteries.
I just got in my interface cable this week and had not gotten to load the Legacy to the laptop yet. I don't trust batteries either.
Black modules are not really the place to back up your legacy database, back the 990 base up to your computer and your regular back up.
The black modules will back up engine profiles but not the entire base. Also the modules are written to each time so they are not real secure place to store backups.
I'd remove batteries just because I don't trust them, although I am not sure if rechargeable batteries leak like other batteries.
Just put in new batteries.
How long do you leave your batteries in place before checking them?
I never had one leak.
Just put in new batteries.
How long do you leave your batteries in place before checking them?
I never had one leak.
Why take a chance? I have seen rechargeable batteries leak, so your experience isn't universal. 
There's no downside to taking them out.
Black Modules should be available Late January per a Lionel customer service individual.
Black Modules should be available Late January per a Lionel customer service individual.
Or you can make some from your blue modules that you'll never use again, and you can have them now. Here's the thread on that conversion.
The *answer* to your original question:
The batteries in the Cab-2 are not required to save the loco, train, or other classes of information displayed on the Cab-2. To start with, the base stores the information, not the Cab-2. Additionally, the data is stored in nonvolatile memory in the base.
Backup with the LSU is a good idea, however the chances are slim that the data will be lost by the base nonvolatile chips. A black module will not help you save any information stored in the base, as mentioned above.
Thanks, but it may all be moot now. I have recieved an RA number from Lionel to sent the cab and base back for the "Dual Flashing Red Light" problem. I have put the data in the laptop with the LSU program.
You will be able to restore the data (if needed on a new base) via the LSU; and perhaps the returned unit will be your original and have the correction, and the data will be retained.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
