The Legacy Base charging light alternate red but then go to simultaneous blinking red. The unit has only successfully charged to the green blinking lights a few times since I'v owned it. It started this problem with the original batteries. I do not have the original batteries any more. I replaced them a couple of years ago with some NiMH 2500mAh batteries. Today I replaced those batteries with a set of fresh identical batteries, but it still will not charge properly. Any suggestions?
Is this the right type of battery for this charger? Were the originals NiCads or NiMH? Also I notice the base unit and CAB 2 get pretty warm when charging.
The charger/battery thing seems to be a weak spot in the Legacy system. Most user's I know have replaced the rechargeable batteries with regular Alkaline ones. That means of course, don't use the charger. I can't help you with what type it came with cause I just don't remember.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
There have been a number of postings in regards to a malfunction in the battery charging process with the Legacy base. Have not heard if Lionel is working on a fix or not.
Bill T.
Not only does Lionel have a fix, they'll fix it for free on an extended warranty on the Legacy set. Please note they have specific recommendations for the batteries that will work in the Legacy charger as well, not all rechargeable AA batteries are compatible with their charging circuit. Lionel will give you the exact details of the acceptable batteries.
An added bonus is that if you/re a veteran, Lionel will pay shipping both ways for warranty returns.
I'd contact Lionel and let them resolve it, I'm guessing complaining about it here won't get your Legacy fixed. Lionel service has been very responsive to these issues, I got both of my Legacy chargers upgraded to function properly.
gunrunnerjohn Not only does Lionel have a fix, they'll fix it for free on an extended warranty on the Legacy set. Please note they have specific recommendations for the batteries that will work in the Legacy charger as well, not all rechargeable AA batteries are compatible with their charging circuit. Lionel will give you the exact details of the acceptable batteries. An added bonus is that if you/re a veteran, Lionel will pay shipping both ways for warranty returns. I'd contact Lionel and let them resolve it, I'm guessing complaining about it here won't get your Legacy fixed. Lionel service has been very responsive to these issues, I got both of my Legacy chargers upgraded to function properly.
Thanx to everyone on this thread for you help. I suspected that it was not just my unit. I left an e-mail about it on Lionel's tech support web site and I would encourage others of you with the same issue to do the same. Hopefully the extended warrantee is still in effect. I have bought several things from Lionel with defective electronics and it is dissapointing that they can not seem to get their quality control up to where it should be. I am holding my breath regarding problems I may find with the ZW-L now slated for September shipment.
Was one of the early persons to receive Legacy. Found the unit actually communicated better without the rechargable batteries. [Posted a long time ago]. I turned off the battery charger and put electrical tape over the contacts. Use non-rechargable batteries and they last a long time.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I'm also one of the first to get this system and this is the sore point of the system. Follow what CHIEF EAGLES said about the alkyline batteries and put the tape over the prongs of the base unit. Otherwise I have had no problems with the unit.
laz57
I would contact Lionel to get it fixed right. I appreciate having the rechargeable feature since the times I did use alkaline batteries they seem to wear out pretty quick.
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I've had no problems with the rechargeable batteries after the fix. I will point out that the CAB2 gets kinda' warm in the command base, so I actually charge my remotes in the #993 charger and I don't use the command base charger.
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