ARC PRO simple mod to switch the lap sensor into APB-mode

12207 Views 53 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Dr_C, Feb 16, 2021

Dr_C

Discussion Starter · May 10, 2020

9

This simple modification switches the lap counting sensor of the ARC PRO into an APB-compatible mode.

The modification relaxes the ID-LED-to-guide-blade constraints of the ARC PRO enabling cars with surechange guides and/or cars with ID LEDs placed a long way back from the guide blade, still, to function correctly. This is achieved by switching the lap counting dual sensor into an APB-compatibility mode.

In making this modification, the analog lap counting function is lost.

The modification is straight forward... and done carefully can be reversed if necessary.

The modification is for DIGITAL use only.

The following nine photos show the procedure (no text)...

C

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Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #41 · Jun 10, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

OK so the above image looks a bit too calm... and sorry for the dodgy sounding silver CLK in the video which follows...

All laps accounted for but please remember there is an update lag with the round-robin BLE protocol used by the ARC PRO for lap reporting...

In this simple trial each digital car stays in its own lane... the IDs go from 4 to 1 from left lane to right lane (as viewed from the camera).

C

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Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #42 · Jun 10, 2020

And in case anyone is interested in what the voltage signals on the sensors look like...

https://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196733&p=2350171

C

Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #43 · Jun 10, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

This project is now completed.

https://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196733&p=2350233

Please keep in mind the limitations of this approach. That said, it should be a lot of fun to use.

My next effort on multilane start/finish lines for the ARC PRO will focus on compatibility with the Hornby ARC app. This is a bit more difficult due to the methodology used in the Hornby app to avoid double counts... this requires triggering of the exit blade sensors before the next lap can be counted for each ID.

C

Anders Trier

· #44 · Jul 9, 2020

4

Dr_C said:
Anyone else given this a try? all feedback welcome! for example... was it easy or difficult? and... did it work...? ie were the results positive? or... was it truly awful?

C

Hi Dr_C

Today with help from my wife, she did the trick with the Arc Pro power base. She have a very steady hand, and used to work with very small things. And the result is really good.

The RMC software I am using is the Magic App.

I am now able to run with my old slot.it cars with old placement of the SDD chip, and now the car can have the lap counted without any problems. I was using slot.it cars that did not count laps before this change.

I also have a single BRM car using slot.it chip and with gray braces, and before this change on the Arc Pro power base it was not counting laps, but after the change the BRM car can now count laps.

I also have a NSR formel 1 car using slot.it chip with gray braces, and before this change on the Arc Pro power base it was not counting laps, but after the change the NSR car can now count laps.

The change was not easy, but NOT truly awful.

Now my Arc Pro power base works with all my SDD chipped cars!!

The controller that I was testing with was a Arc Pro controller, and SCP3 controller with amplifier installed.

Many thanks for you help Dr_C.

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Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #45 · Sep 5, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

A while back I mentioned a small circuit board which can be fitted to the ARC PRO which auto-switches between APB-mode for digital and normal mode for analog. I have been using several of these prototype boards in a number of my powerbases. They seem to function perfectly well. I promised to send one to each of about 10 forum members. I have not forgotten.

Instead of sending the rather amateurish prototyping board versions I am doing something better - a custom pcb version - now being manufactured.

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The circuit effectively makes and breaks the grey wire when moving the analog/digital slider switch on the side of the powerbase. There is some added circuitry on the board for a couple of other functions too.

Once the boards are back, built up and tested I will post out to those who asked for one.

c

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MrFlippant

· #46 · Sep 5, 2020

Love it!

Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #47 · Oct 26, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

Thanks to Neillie and Anders (and his wife) for the very kind and helpful feedback. Also thanks too to MrF for supportive and positive encouragement

I now have the above printed circuits manufactured as prototypes. These use the grey wire removal technique to switch the powerbase into APB-mode with all of the earlier reported benefits. However, the grey wire removal is achieved electronically so when the digital/analog mode switch on the side of the powerbase is adjusted the lap sensor switches between APB-digital-mode and blade-detect analog mode.

I still would welcome any further feedback on the grey wire removal mod. Then... two next steps:

1/ to share the above prototype pcb with those who requested one earlier.
2/ to share a recommended minor design change with Hornby for their consideration for future releases of ARC PRO.

c

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Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #48 · Oct 26, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

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It took one small design change to get this right - spot the difference and guess why?

c

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Neillie

· #49 · Oct 29, 2020

Dr_C said:
I still would welcome any further feedback on the grey wire removal mod.

Hi Doc, been running this constantly and haven't had any issues whatsoever, I've had 6 cars on track, 4 racing and 2 pace cars and all has been fine using the Magic App

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biohazardnico

· #50 · Oct 29, 2020

Do It a while,running 2 cars + 2 pace with magic app, and zero issues

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ChrisH

· #51 · Nov 7, 2020

Dr. C-

What about the grey wire on the exit sensors? Does the grey wire on the exit sensors need to be disconnected as well? I recently purchased a v4 powerbase and am about to splice the sensor wires from the two pieces of track (merging my old v3 track with the new V4 powerbase and track) to complete my 4 lane digital start/finish line.

I will make a Y split connection using 3 wires (not grey) on the first set of (entry) sensors from each track piece, but what about the exit sensors? Do I join all 4 wires with a Y split connection to the JST plug on the exit sensors? I am not really sure what role the exit sensors have for the Magic App.

By the way, I only use the Magic App (love it) and am 100% digital.

Thank you, in advance.

Chris

Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #52 · Nov 7, 2020

Hi Chris, yes - splice the three wires but leaving the grey ones disconnected.

Don't splice the exit sensors - they are not used for the Magic App when in digital mode.

Hope this helps.

c

Explanation: the Hornby ap uses the exit sensors as part of the algorithm to avoid double counts. The Magic app uses a different algorithm based on a minimum lap time filter - so the exit sensors are not used.

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ChrisH

· #53 · Nov 21, 2020

Dr. C-

Thank you so much, it works perfectly! 4 lanes of digital action with lap timing.

Chris

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Dr_C

Discussion Starter · #54 · Feb 16, 2021 (Edited by Moderator)

Just to add... the technique of decoupling the grey wire to switch an ARC PRO into APB-mode is now informally known as...

the grey wire mod

or

the gray wire mod

in summary it does the following:

1/ it relaxes the ID-sensor/blade-sensor requirements of the ARC PRO which some consider too stringent
2/ it enables SureChange guides to be used or any other LED-in-front-of-guide-blade to function correctly
3/ it enables IR-transmissive guide blades to be used (Magic app only)
4/ it enables 4 lane start/finish lap counting using parallel wiring of ID sensors (Magic app only)
5/ it is a digital only solution

Hope that helps as a Feb 2021 clarification.

c

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