Mine had been sitting for a week or so. Seemed not to want to recharge. Pulled them out and installed 3 AA Energizers. Man, Legacy base and remote acted as if it were in a “new world”. Will do some long time running when I get a chance. Try it. I think you will like it.
I pulled my rechargable batteries out about 3 weeks ago, and installed alkaline batteries. Whole system works a lot better. Tonight the battery indicator still showed 3 bars. I know that’s what I will continue using.
Two things with rechargeable batteries that not everyone knows about. One, you need to run them totally flat once in a while because if they only run down halfway each time and then get recharged, they get a memory to them and will only charge so far. Two, most over the counter rechargeable batteries and chargers are usually rated a lower voltage than regular batteries. You need to find ones that have a TRUE RATING of 1.5 Volts, not !.25 Volts. I have seen them on the Internet somewhere. I had the same problem with 9 Volt rechargeables. When I find it again I will post it.
Sincerely
sparks32
Thanks Sparks. Glad you joined us. Looks like you have been watching but not a lot of posting. Jump right in and help us out. Thanks again.
Interesting post. I won’t create a new controversy by suggesting how to extend the useful and effective life of alkalines by recharging them, unless someone posts you can’t or shouldn’t do it, or they will leak all over the insides of the loco. [:-^] Those who have done it for decades know what I am talking about, and the how.
The type of rechargeables used can mitigate the “memory” and “useful life” issues.
The comment on “check the voltage on the replacement rechargeables you select”, great recommendation…we tend to look at the size that fits and may forget that all rechargeable batteries are not created equal, nor were they meant to be.
Jack
I noticed the same thing with AA rechargeable batteries that sparks32 mentioned. Checked the voltage on a digital multimeter and the rechargeable had 1.27 volts, not 1.51 volts or better.
My personal choice of small batteries is Duracell Batteries, they have good voltage and last longer than even the Energizer or Bunny Batteries.
Lee F.
Thanks for posting this Chief!!! Before I get started on the battery thing…have you had any more problems with communication between the remote and the base? I know that was an ongoing problem that many folks complained about at the OGR forum and even Neil Young himself said they were trying to solve the problem.
Now to batteries…first the comment about rechargeable batteries having a memory and needing to run them down to zero and then recharging them. This is only true for Nicad (Nickel Cadmium) rechargeable batteries. It is not true of Nimh (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. That’s why you rarely see Nicad batteries for sale any more. Nimh batteries have no “memory” issues like Nicad has. So you can recharge them anytime without having to worry about them not taking a full charge. As a matter of fact, fully discharging a Nimh battery can result in it’s destruction.
Rechargeable battery power…yes, they don’t put out as much initial power as an alkaline battery. They also are much less likely to leak like an alkaline battery. Nimh batteries come in all kinds of power ratings now. “Sometimes, voltage-sensitive devices won’t perform well because the voltage of NiMH batteries is lower than fresh disposable batteries at equivalent sizes, particularly at light loads. Even though the nominal NiMH voltage is lower, it sustains for the length of the discharge cycle, since the low internal resistance allows NiMH cells to deliver a near-constant voltage until they are almost completely discharged. Alkaline discharge voltage drops more towards the end of the discharge cycle.”
I don’t know what kind of batteries the Legacy controller comes with. If they are Nicads, then Lionel opted for the “cheap” as far as powering that system. I would toss them and switch to Nimh batteries if I wanted rechargeables that were worth a dang.
Nimh info:
Consider using MAHA Powerex NiMH AA and 9V rechargeables. They can be obtained through a place called “Thomas Distributing” (http://thomasdistributing.com)
I’ve been using their AA batteries for a number of years (literally the same batteries - they just keep going) in digital cameras, flashes, GPS units, cordless phones. They are well made, have high mAh ratings, and have a life span that is much much longer than rechargeables from other companies.
Weren’t the nicads the very first rechargeable batteries for use in smaller devices? If I recall, they had their cost benefit if one didn’t mind how fast they discharged under operating conditions, faster if it was a power-sucking device like a toy. Then there was the dreaded “memory” issue. Remember it all too well. It was a first step nonetheless that led all the way to the lithiums.
Remember how much talk time you got with your first true portable cellular phone (post bag phones)? Zippo by today’s standards, and less than zippo pre-digital when analog “roaming” used to rule the “outside your service” area. Think nicads were the battery then for the cell phones.
Jack
If you are interested in recharging alkaline batteries, here is the charger that gets the job done:
I had to send my Cab2 back to Lionel 3 weeks ago. Still no word from Lionel. I turned the Cab2 on one day, graphics flashed about a second then nothing on the screen. Charged up another set o batteries and same thing happened. Place copper tops in and same thing. Lionel said probably a bad chip inside? All this after I sent it to get upgraded to 1.2. Glad I still have the cab1.
laz57
NiCads were the first “dry” rechargeable batteries. They are now only used in devices with specific needs that match critical parameters that only a NiCad possess. Their main drawback is actually the toxicity of Cadmium and the costs associated in processing/handling/recycling, a relatively low weight vrs energy storage ratio, and the issue of “memory”. The last issue can be dealt with by users actually discharging batteries fully before recharging. Many of the later chargers had a “conditioning” button/circuit to do this before starting the charge cycle. By the time NiCad manufacturers addressed this issue, less toxic NiMH and Li batteries were coming to market with advantages of their own besides lower environmental costs. NiMH do no have “memory issues” and have a higher stored energy density. Li Ion’s have even higher stored energy and Li Polymers can be manufactured in odd shapes to fit inside small devices like utra slim phones/laptops.
The NiCad has a longer uncharged shelf life (5 years), a longer charged shelf life (about 1 year), a flatter voltage discharge profile, and the ability to dump their stored energy more quickly than the other dry rechargables. They are often found in emergency medical equipment (like AED’s).