What's Under the Slot Car Table Part 1 - Table extensions and wiring considerations
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- čas přidán 14. 03. 2020
- Hello everyone,
I've had a few questions about how I did the table extensions to handle the areas of the track that extend past the main table and another question about adding power taps.
Hopefully, in this episode I'll cover the table extensions, wiring considerations when adding power tap locations and why this can differ if you plan on running just digital or digital and analog cars.
Let me know if you have questions or if there is something you would like to see in a future video.
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
I definitely needed to see this because I am installing lights. Thinks.
What a great video thank you for taking the time. You track looks amazing!!
Very Helpful- Thanks Jeff
Glad to help
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hey Jeff... I'm about to install my Power Taps. Can I install the wire (Power Tap) staring from my (Variable Power Supply) to a multi wire distribution block then out to the track? Or do you have to start at the CU to a (MWDB) then out to the track? Thanks for all you do.
Hi TJ, Thanks for watching and the question/comment.
Do NOT connect the power supply directly to the track. You will lose the digital signal that the CU injects/modulates into each lane of the track and you might damage your CU and any digital accessories that are connected i.e. lane changes, wireless controller charging stations, driver displays...basically just don't do it.
1.) Connect the power supply to the CU as you normally would.
2.) Tap both wires from each lane of the CU track (4 total) and run each of those wires to it's own distribution block.
3.) Then run your power taps from the distribution blocks to the pieces of track in your layout where want/need them.
Let me know if you have any other questions or if you would like me to explain this in greater detail.
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
@@garagemakerguy1808 Thanks for diving on that hand-grenade! You saved me from letting the "Smoke Out"....I owe you a Beer!!!! Thanks for what you do.
Jeff, I’m not electrical savvy at all. Could you show a detailed visual of the wiring of cu to the terminal block to the power taps? Not an electrical diagram but actual demonstration footage. Thanks
Hey I am another question I have a hot wheel set with the 2 loop the loops I think it’s one of a kind of course and one side works in the other side doesn’t on the two cars and I wonder if it’s just a week hook up and I need a stronger box with stronger triggers or what I need
Hi Dwayne,
I'm not too familiar with the Hot Wheels" slot car setup but making sure you have good connections between each piece of track in both lanes all the way around the track is very important.
If you're having a problem in one lane and not the other, try switching controllers and verify that both controllers are working on the lane that works. This will rule out the possibility of a bad controller.
Verify that all of your cars work in the 'good' lane. This will rule out the possibility of one of the cars being bad.
General maintenance includes keeping the track and the brushes on the cars clean. See the manual that came with the track for instructions on how to do this.
If you're still having problems, make sure the electrical connections from the power supply to the track (the box that plugs into the wall and connects to the track).
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
I noticed a few Big Red Buttons in a few videos of your Slot Car Track Layout. I was wondering what they was for, maybe Emergency Power Shut Off or something?
Hi "dosborn418", Thanks for watching and the question,
The "Big Red Buttons" (also called "Track Call" or "De-slot" buttons) are used for pausing the race if a car comes off the track or any of the racers need to pause the race for any reason.
These buttons are not wired into the control/start unit. The buttons are connected in parallel to an Arduino Leonardo board that sends a 'space' keystroke to the HSSRMS (race management software running on a PC). The Arduino board is connected to the PC with a USB cable.
Note: There was a little bit of code written for the Arduino board to handle 'switch debouncing' and to actually send a 'space' keystroke to the PC whenever one of the buttons is pressed.
I will be covering the details of the track call system in a future video.
I got the idea from Ed Magner on Home Racing World:
www.hrwforum.com/forum/hrw-all-scales/club-home-connection/carrera-digital-north-america/6065-usb-track-call-button-beacon-for-hssrms
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
@@garagemakerguy1808 You could also call the Track Call Buttons, "Flag Zone Handlers" for the Flaggers at Various Places at Le Manes 24 Hour Race.