[Olsen]

I have the APB 7042. Got two power units connected. Got power taps. The track is aprox 22 meters long. There are four lane changes. Running PitPro and SSDC. Have tried to run the track with one, two, three and four cars - but why is it, that one lane is faster than the other? It seems like there is more power in the lane closest to the ABP and it gives it an advantage (lane 1). It is the same issue with every car and can be seen when I setup a drag race between cars.

Anyone seen a similar problem and what can be done to fix it?

 

[RikoRocket]

This is illogical as inside the C7042 there are relays that join the two tracks together for digital mode. I would suspect that the continuity of connection close to the powerbase in lane 2 is not good.
The best test (most sensitive) is to use your ear. Run a car at max speed but holding its wheels in the air. Is the note/frequency the same in lane 1 and 2 directly on the powerbase? If not then there is a hardware fault in the powerbase. If it isthe same then slowly move the car over each joint listening to hear a drop in note. When you identify a change attack the joint with a flat blade screwdriver to make the connection more solid.

 

[Olsen]

That was a good suggestion for problem solving the power issue. I hope that it isn't a hardware problem. The APB is only few months old. I could very well be connectivity problems somewhere at the track and not inside or at the powerbase itself. Nice view on how to get closer to the root cause, thank you.

 

[Olsen]

By the way - is it possible to measure the voltage at lane 1 and lane 2? I have no competences when it comes to electricity, but can a volt-meter be used somehow? Then I can troubleshoot with both my ears and with data

 

[RikoRocket]

Its really not sensitive enough. The voltage across the rails will float up to the same level as the powerbase. Using a volt meter takes very very little current so it will see full voltage. When a car is involved it takes real current, when the current is being drawn through a bad joint (high resistance) then the voltage will depress and you can get a difference. But your brain and ear can hear very tiny differences in frequency. I have always used this technique to identify where the volts are lost, it works with analogue or digital.