[downtheante]

Imagine you haven’t used Scalextric for a lot of years, you have missed all of the discussions during those years (and are now joining them at the end or in the middle) and you are no expert with how circuit boards work – that’s me. I have both the C7042 Powerbase and ARC Pro and a soldering iron and some enthusiasm.

My questions revolve around some saloon cars with lights in my collection that have the C7006 on board. Reading through many threads, it seems that the C7006 can be used to manage the lights and that the “always on” option is available. However, it also seems that some sort of flash might be needed to the chip, but further Googling suggests that the chip cannot have its firmware upgraded. Further further Googling suggests that it can be done via InCarPro. This is confusing to me.

So here’s the questions
1.     Is it possible to wire lights to the C7006? If so, do I need to flash it? If so, do I need some hardware and software? If so, where do I get those items please?
2.     Would someone share clear pictures of precisely how the chip should be wired to make the lights work in the simple way that they work with the EasyFit C8515 Rev H (I recognise that these are entirely different chips and each of a different “era”).

I know I’m probably asking a lot but, as my dad used to say, if you don’t ask you don’t get ?

[Dr_C2]

Hi downtheante,

Your question has perfect timing as Scalextric have just released a new version of the C7005 decoder which uses an updated microcontoller (16F1503), replaces the big cylindrical capacitor with six tiny multilayer ceramic capacitors and which, importantly, includes lighting driver circuits (dual npn transistors) and space for fitting a JST lighting socket. 

Very likely this lighting socket when fitted will provide power for the front lights and rear lights, including functioning brake lights. This needs to be checked by someone who owns one of the new decoders - as the decoder uses the 16F1503 microcontroller, i.e. the same as the C8515 rev H, very likely it will use the same firmware. This firmware includes functioning brake lights.

So something for our digital gurus to check please.

Meanwhile, the older C7005 decoders (i.e. the ones with the big cylindrical capacitor) would require alternative third-party firmware to get the brake lights to function correctly and also the soldering required to access these signals would be quite intricate too. Best avoided IMO.

I hope this is useful - certainly the new C7005 retrofit decoder looks very interesting from many angles -including the space for the lighting socket.

c

[downtheante]

This sounds like great news Dr_C2 - it would be preferable to be able to fit a JST socket. Of course now that you've mentioned it, I can't find anything from Scalextric on the subject. Do you have a link?

[Dr_C2]

Hi downtheante,

I’ve not seen any comms from Scalextric so likely there will be a mix of the older and newer C7005 decoders across retailers for a while.


I’ve ordered a couple of C7005 decoders from an online e-commerce marketplace where Scalextric have an online shop - so fingers crossed these will be the new type.

When they arrive I’ll share some photos for comparison purposes and test the lighting circuits :)

c

[M.Soames]

To answer your question directly the the c7006 chip can be tailored for lights fairly easily ,if you have good soldering skills and can handle a pic programmer ...

Extensive information on how to do this is available on "other" forums ..

Please feel free to drop me a pm if you would like more information ?. 

Mike .

[Dr_C2]

The last post has nicely highlighted that this thread was asking about the C7006 decoder not the C7005. Both are retro-fit decoders with the C7006 initially intended for saloon cars and the C7005 for F1 cars. The C7006 was discontinued many many years ago leaving the C7005 as the intended solution for retro-fit for both saloon and F1 cars.

The simple solution for functioning brake lights is either:

1/ To use a DPR style C8515 rev H either with or without the plastic hatch.

2/ To use the very latest retro-fit C7005 (labelled ‘11/2022’) as per my earlier posts on this thread. And just to confirm, the lighting circuits on this latest retro-fit C7005 function correctly - including functioning brake lights. All with standard Scalextric firmware.

Both have solder connection points for fitting a lighting JST socket with associated driver circuits.

Yes with care, older C7005 and C7006 decoders can be modified to add lighting but this is a lot of work to achieve what is more simply achieved with the two newer above options. If modifying the older C7005 or C7006 decoders then third party firmware is required in the form of InCarPro (ICP). There are two versions in circulation, namely ICP3.3 and ICP4.0.1. It’s important to note that ICP3.3 is not recommended for use with ARC PRO. ICP4.0.1 is good for use with both the APB and ARC PRO.

c