[Boy Racer]

I tried to run my APB 7042 in analogue mode (simply switched in ssdc - nice one Andy) but it won't work.

I suspect from what I've read previously that you cannot have the rails of the two lanes connected to each other. Is that the case? Can I do anything about it?

My track is a permanent 70' set up with a section of single track, so I cannot separate the two lanes. If this were using a true analogue Powerbase it would simply power the whole thing as one lane, and the second lane would be effectively dormant if no power was applied to it (I believe). I suspect the problem might be that the Powerbase is getting faux DC fed back to the unused lane and it doesn't like it.

When I pull the trigger the lights start to flash, which in crease as I pull it more, then it goes into safe mode.

I would like to be able to use analogue if possible but I don't want to pull up my track to do it.

Any ideas appreciated. And for Andy- assuming m understanding is correct, is this something that can be 'fixed' by firmware means?

Cheers

Andrew

 

[MrFlippant]

I've seen some bases go into safe mode in that situation, and some work fine. It would be nice to know why, or to be able to have the base not get annoyed when it shouldn't be.
I think you're right, though, that it's because the base is getting voltage on lane 2 when it only thinks it should be there on lane 1.

 

[Boy Racer]

So when you say that you've "seen some bases go into safe mode" does this mean you have seen some not go into safe mode with single/joined lanes?

If that is the case, then there may be some hope for me...

Cheers

Andrew

 

[MrFlippant]

Yes. I've also seen bases that don't seem to care about linked lanes in analog mode. In fact, the first time I used the APB, at 132slotcar.us' digital test track, it had 3 CLCs, all unmodified, and we tried two lane analog mode. It acted strangely, with cars not getting power when expected, or going when you didn't expect it to (depending on which controller was being pulled) but not once did it go into Safe mode.

It should have gone into safe mode, but it didn't. I don't know why, though.

 

[Boy Racer]

If some don't go into safe mode, that would suggest that there is potentially something that can be done to prevent it. In which case there is some hope for my analogue aspirations. Now I just need someone to identify what it is that needs to be done... RichG... Help

...I expect he will be tied up for a while yet with crushing the bug that is the APB lap eater

 

[MrFlippant]

In all likelihood, the answer will be "it's supposed to go into safe mode" and any base that doesn't is defective because it's short circuit protection isn't working properly. :\

 

[MPJBud]

Surely if you isolate where the tracks go from 2 to 1, so that only one lane is continuous that will solve the problem.

If you have more than one 2 to 1 then always isolate the same lane, otherwise there will be dead spots on the track

 

[Mr Modifier]

Just a shot in the dark - are you running 2 power supplies? If so remove one and then try analogue mode.

Scalextric state that 2 power supplies are needed to run analogue in both lanes on the APB so this implies that one power supply will only supply a single lane and, as there won't be a power input to the other lane, you may get away with it electrically.

By the way - if you run a chipped car in analogue mode it will run in either direction without having to change direction on the APB - this is because the chip had a built-in bridge rectifier (or something that does the same job).

 

[Boy Racer]

I had started with the assumption that it would use two power supplies for two lanes, so I only used one. I tried the single supply in both of the sockets, and it made no difference.

Is anyone running single lane track (joined lanes) in analogue successfully?

Cheers

Andrew