[BAracer]

So...I have very kindly been lent three basic home controllers to try out and get a better understanding of the differences between the various ohmage ratings.

And there was a clear winner. On my medium size track that I have set up for the weekend, running a car with a Scaleauto 21k motor, the 45 ohm controller gave the best balance between trigger response and braking. That was comparing it with similar 35ohm and 60ohm controllers. It only took a couple of laps with each to get a feel for how they performed, and the differences were clear. Too sensitive a trigger with the 35, and no brakes with the 60.

So second hand Parma or new DS?

[woodcote]

New DS 

[Qman]

Or secondhand electronic...

Do you prefer finger or thumb? I will have a couple of converted Parma handles in the near future and I think I have a spare thumb type electronic if you're interested.

It is strange hearing you all talking about 35 ohm & 45 ohm, when I last used a resistor controller I was down to around 1.8ohm, back in the 70's my controller of choice was a 5ohm MRRC

[BAracer]

You should watch the last 15mins of this week's World Wide Chat. It features some weird (to me) controllers from the 70/80s...all steel framing and heat sinks!

[Nonfractal]

If you really have to own a resistor controller , the DS is OK. (I used DS controllers for 2 or 3 years)

I grew to hate resistor controllers for club racing because:

 - different controllers with different ohm rating are needed to make the feel of the car right when different motors are used. I Found that 15, 25 and 35 were the  minimum required for the cars I use at club racing. DS don't make a 15 ohm so I ended up using an old (borrowed) vintage RussKit controller for some classes. 

- the wiper arm and controller's wiper track need regular cleaning to keep them working properly.

- the physical contact of the wiper arm depends on the tension of the wiper arm itself and  is different between every controller. That tension gives every controller a different feel. Changing to a backup controller during a race night will always impact results because it takes 1 race to adapt to the feel of the backup controller. 

- when the physical contacts start to fail, car control  becomes erratic, more often than not, in mid race.

- resistor controllers are linear. There are some characteristics of motors that can not be adjusted with a simple linear rheostat controller.


In summary PWM controllers offer reliability, consistency and adaptability (to different motors, voltages and tracks) 

PWM controllers are also good value for money  because you only need one. Mine covers all of my analogue and digital club racing needs.

Slot car racing is a COOL-RETRO hobby. 
Resistor controllers are not cool, Just OLD

AlanW

[BAracer]

Don't get me wrong, I have a SLot.it SCP-2 and I absolutely love it. I also have a nice 20 speed racing bike, but I also had a fixed wheel one for a while. 

I've come into this hobby late, I'm curious as to how it has got to where it is technology wise. And as Woodcote touched on, for those moments when I pop into the garage to run a car round my rally track for ten minutes of mindless wellbeing, it's easier to pick up a simple, no knob controller and just get on with driving rather than twiddling.

And I just WANT one!

[Top Down]

Personally I prefer the Parma. Seems more robust and comes from the days when quality counted. DS controllers seem more lightweight and built to a price.

Used both and it's just one person's preference though.

[CMOTD]

Although Parma are virtually extinct and their controllers haven't been readily available for some considerable time SCD appears to have stock of all of them and the relevant spares. LINK

Mind you, their website is rarely updated and you can't order online so it is debatable whether they actually have any in stock. Might be worth a try though if you are looking for some.

[BAracer]

SCD and ABslotsport are slowly becoming my favourite websites to browse!

I spotted their Parma page just after being made an offer I couldn't refuse for a Parma 45 ohm basic with the metal trigger that digs into your finger. I feel that using this on my little rally track is part of my rights of passage into the hobby, and hopefully my finger will mold itself into the right shape eventually.

I did spot that Truspeed offer a replacement trigger that also fits a Parma, so might get one of those and create my own Parma-stein controller.

[BAracer]