22nd-Apr-20, 01:52 PM
I admit, this may be "common" knowledge but we finally got a new track set up (ARC PRO/Scalextric Sport) and are going through every car we have seeing how they run and deciding what they need done to make them run better.
We got around to some Carrera digital cars (specifically the D132 Huracon and '77 Trans Am) and I was not surprised when we put the cars on the track and nothing happened. I flipped the switch figuring they were in digital mode and while the lights went on they faded back off fairly quickly.
So I got out my trusty variable volt power supply and connected it up directly to the blades. Strangely the wheels won't move unless I put at least 9 volts on them (the cars have been sitting in their boxes for over a year so I am guess the motor had "seized" a bit, after the initial start they started working at lower voltages). Anyway, so I got the motor running and I put them on the track and... nothing...
I double checked with the power supply and the motor worked then I "twiigged" and put the car on the track the other way round (left to right) and it worked!
Same thing with the other Carrera digital car.
I don't remember ever hearing or reading this before.
I plan on replacing the decoder with a light board as we will never have a Carrera digital setup (these boards are somewhat easy to obtain. When people "upgraded" analog cars with lights they replaced them with a digital decoder). I am curious the light board will allow travel in both directions (as is the case for a lot of Carrera cars) or if I will have to swap the wires over on the motor.
So, like I said, probably common knowledge but new to me (I still find saran wrap/cling film exciting so I am probably weird) and if anyone has experience with the light boards and dual direction I greatly appreciate your input.
We got around to some Carrera digital cars (specifically the D132 Huracon and '77 Trans Am) and I was not surprised when we put the cars on the track and nothing happened. I flipped the switch figuring they were in digital mode and while the lights went on they faded back off fairly quickly.
So I got out my trusty variable volt power supply and connected it up directly to the blades. Strangely the wheels won't move unless I put at least 9 volts on them (the cars have been sitting in their boxes for over a year so I am guess the motor had "seized" a bit, after the initial start they started working at lower voltages). Anyway, so I got the motor running and I put them on the track and... nothing...
I double checked with the power supply and the motor worked then I "twiigged" and put the car on the track the other way round (left to right) and it worked!
Same thing with the other Carrera digital car.
I don't remember ever hearing or reading this before.
I plan on replacing the decoder with a light board as we will never have a Carrera digital setup (these boards are somewhat easy to obtain. When people "upgraded" analog cars with lights they replaced them with a digital decoder). I am curious the light board will allow travel in both directions (as is the case for a lot of Carrera cars) or if I will have to swap the wires over on the motor.
So, like I said, probably common knowledge but new to me (I still find saran wrap/cling film exciting so I am probably weird) and if anyone has experience with the light boards and dual direction I greatly appreciate your input.