2nd-Nov-20, 09:45 AM
Greg - the two lane change systems are slightly different, but as KensRedZed rightly said, missed changes can be minimised by excellent race craft - as well as careful track design and good maintenance.
The differences between the lane changers are...
Carrera: As with Scalextric, the driver holds down the lane change button on the controller. The Carrera Control Unit (CU) sends a message via the track rails to the chips in all the lane changers on the circuit telling them to look out for a car with a specific ID. When that car comes along and the offset LED and sensor line-up - and the lane changer successfully reads the car chip's ID - the lane changer is activated, the flipper is opened (and held open by a spring) until the car's guide pushes a mechanical switch in the lane to close the flipper, so cars following very close behind go straight on and don't follow the first car. The Carrera lane change has a very 'clunky' feel. The Carrera lane changers are longer (two straights, rather than one-and-a-half), so 1/32 cars can take the lane changer at a faster speed. The flipper is also live, meaning that cars cannot stall on the lane changer.
Scalextric: When the driver holds down the lane change button on the controller, the powerbase sends a message to the car's chip for the LED to pulse at a different frequency. Infrared sensors in each lane changer sense the LED pulses - one frequency triggers the lane changer to close (straight-on) and the other to open (lane change). Unless a car is right up the lane-changing car's bumper (fender), it will not follow the car in front but change / go straight on depending on whether the driver is pressing the lane change button or not. The Scalextric lane change feels much smoother. The flippers are not live (although they should take current from the rail they are touching when open) so there is a chance of stalling if the lane changer is not making contact with the rail and it is positioned in a particularly slow section. It's not a problem I've encountered very often.
In terms of 'missed' changes, both systems require the car's LED to line up with a sensor. If the car is not running straight, there is always the risk of this alignment not happening and the lane change being missed - this is especially an issue with non-mag cars that are more 'tail-happy'. The important thing is to have at least a half straight between a corner exit and the lane changer if you are running magnet cars and at least a full straight if you are running non-mag. As the ideal place to put a lane changer is the end of a straight - going into a corner - this shouldn't be a problem.
Another reason for 'missed' changes can be sensor issues - the car LED or track sensor can get dirty (both are easy to clean with a moist cotton bud - aka Q Tip) and direct sunlight shining on the sensor can cause mayhem (shade or relocate the changer). Careful storage of the lane changers is also important and they should be kept flat in the circuit (if on a bridge or fly-over, they should be supported underneath with some mdf or plywood board). If you have a permanent layout, it is very wise to cover the lane changers (and powerbase / Control Unit) when not in use to keep the dust and dirt off the sensors.
Mostly, missed changes are down to the driver - either pressing too late, following a car too closely or tail sliding / tank slapping out of a corner and down the straight. If you remember where the sensors are and that your car needs to be dead straight over the sensors, that minimises issues on both systems. However, most people prefer to blame the equipment.
One reason that videos might give the impression of more issues with Scalextric lane changers is I find that Carrera digital racers tend to run with traction magnets fitted and Scalextric digital racers are more likely to run non-mag. Just a thought...
A good source of in-depth info on the two systems is Dave Chang's "Digital Slot Car Racing in 1/32 scale". Most of what I know in terms of theory comes from there and helps me understand why certain issues happen in practice. It is an old book, but the basic principles are still 100% relevant and very useful.
The differences between the lane changers are...
Carrera: As with Scalextric, the driver holds down the lane change button on the controller. The Carrera Control Unit (CU) sends a message via the track rails to the chips in all the lane changers on the circuit telling them to look out for a car with a specific ID. When that car comes along and the offset LED and sensor line-up - and the lane changer successfully reads the car chip's ID - the lane changer is activated, the flipper is opened (and held open by a spring) until the car's guide pushes a mechanical switch in the lane to close the flipper, so cars following very close behind go straight on and don't follow the first car. The Carrera lane change has a very 'clunky' feel. The Carrera lane changers are longer (two straights, rather than one-and-a-half), so 1/32 cars can take the lane changer at a faster speed. The flipper is also live, meaning that cars cannot stall on the lane changer.
Scalextric: When the driver holds down the lane change button on the controller, the powerbase sends a message to the car's chip for the LED to pulse at a different frequency. Infrared sensors in each lane changer sense the LED pulses - one frequency triggers the lane changer to close (straight-on) and the other to open (lane change). Unless a car is right up the lane-changing car's bumper (fender), it will not follow the car in front but change / go straight on depending on whether the driver is pressing the lane change button or not. The Scalextric lane change feels much smoother. The flippers are not live (although they should take current from the rail they are touching when open) so there is a chance of stalling if the lane changer is not making contact with the rail and it is positioned in a particularly slow section. It's not a problem I've encountered very often.
In terms of 'missed' changes, both systems require the car's LED to line up with a sensor. If the car is not running straight, there is always the risk of this alignment not happening and the lane change being missed - this is especially an issue with non-mag cars that are more 'tail-happy'. The important thing is to have at least a half straight between a corner exit and the lane changer if you are running magnet cars and at least a full straight if you are running non-mag. As the ideal place to put a lane changer is the end of a straight - going into a corner - this shouldn't be a problem.
Another reason for 'missed' changes can be sensor issues - the car LED or track sensor can get dirty (both are easy to clean with a moist cotton bud - aka Q Tip) and direct sunlight shining on the sensor can cause mayhem (shade or relocate the changer). Careful storage of the lane changers is also important and they should be kept flat in the circuit (if on a bridge or fly-over, they should be supported underneath with some mdf or plywood board). If you have a permanent layout, it is very wise to cover the lane changers (and powerbase / Control Unit) when not in use to keep the dust and dirt off the sensors.
Mostly, missed changes are down to the driver - either pressing too late, following a car too closely or tail sliding / tank slapping out of a corner and down the straight. If you remember where the sensors are and that your car needs to be dead straight over the sensors, that minimises issues on both systems. However, most people prefer to blame the equipment.
One reason that videos might give the impression of more issues with Scalextric lane changers is I find that Carrera digital racers tend to run with traction magnets fitted and Scalextric digital racers are more likely to run non-mag. Just a thought...
A good source of in-depth info on the two systems is Dave Chang's "Digital Slot Car Racing in 1/32 scale". Most of what I know in terms of theory comes from there and helps me understand why certain issues happen in practice. It is an old book, but the basic principles are still 100% relevant and very useful.
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