Digital conversion of non Carrera cars?

35221 Views 86 Replies 21 Participants Last post by hvand, Nov 29, 2011

stevebarthel

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2009

Greetings,
Being new to this great hobby and starting to search forums, I'm wondering if it's possible to buy Scaleletrix, Fly or Ninco car and add a Carrera digital chip to run on a Carrera digital track? I've done conversons of Carrera analog cars this way and it works fine, but wanted to find out if anyone is doing this before I invest in another manufacturer's cars.
Thanks!

1 - 20 of 87 Posts

b.yingling

· #2 · Feb 8, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

Yes.

If you converted Carrera analog cars that were designed to be digitally upgraded- it was very simple. Replace chip. Race.

If you converted Carrera cars that were not designed to be upgradeable, then you know exactly what you will need to do with other manufacturers cars. You'll need to solder the leads, cut a hole in the chassis for the LED, and find a way to mount the chip. I've used hot glue to hold the chip in place on my conversions. Works fine.

AlanW

· #3 · Feb 8, 2009

Has anyone put together a step by step guide for converting non Carrera cars to Carrera Digital?

I want to convert my Scalextric F1 Safety Car to Carrera Digital but haven't got a clue where to begin.

lgl007

· #4 · Feb 8, 2009

I wouldl love to see a step by step guide... it's the only way I would attempt what you are thinking of Alan... I'm in the same boat as you mate.

-Greg

TireSpin

· #5 · Feb 10, 2009

I agree with you guys, a step by step guide with pictures would be great. I don't like working without a net.

b.yingling

· #6 · Feb 10, 2009

QUOTE (TireSpin @ 9 Feb 2009, 20:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I agree with you guys, a step by step guide with pictures would be great. I don't like working without a net.

Every car is different, but every one requires the same things. Attach the leads from the chip to the braids and the motor. Cut a hole for the LED in the chassis. Mount the chip. Because every car is different, you have to realize that if you do this you are working without a net.

But if you are comfortable with a soldering iron, it really isn't much of a high wire act. If you are not- I'd recommend not trying it until you're ready to sacrifice a chip and/or a car on a possible failure.

AlanW

· #7 · Feb 10, 2009

OK if I were to talk about a specific conversion, a Scalextric digital car, how would I convert that?

TireSpin

· #8 · Feb 11, 2009

QUOTE (AlanW @ 10 Feb 2009, 16:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>OK if I were to talk about a specific conversion, a Scalextric digital car, how would I convert that?

Hey Alan,

Based on what b.yingling has stated, this is my take on the whole scenario. It appears that you would need to remove the SSD chip from the car and replace it with the proper Carrera D132 chip that will fit in the chassis with the body on.

You would then need to do the soldering of the leads and plug any lights (if applicable) into the correct spot on the Carrera chip. You would also need to ensure the led sensor is lined up correctly on the chassis. At least that's how I understand it? Anybody out there please correct me if I am wrong?

Regards,

nbop

· #9 · Mar 10, 2009

2

Maybe this will help:

Neill

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lgl007

· #10 · Mar 10, 2009

Hey guys... been following this thread with significant interest. I guess the biggest question is... there a number of lead wires coming out of the Carrera chip. Which wires go where? If it's a standard analog car you are converting then each of these wires needs/will to go to a specific spot on the analog car... correct? I mean analog cars are so basic for the most part. So technically would the procedure not be the same for any analog car conversion (excluding Carrera cars that are build read for digital conversion)? It would be nice to see a step by step of any one particular Scaly or any other car... as I would imagine the procedure would not deviate much from car to car?

For instance, in my case I have used a soldering iron in the past about half dozen times so no big deal, but figuring out where all the leads go is... so it would be nice to see someone do a step by step of say a Scaley analog car conversion... Unfortunately until I can get my hands on such a thing I can't even begin to think of where the wires will go...

-Greg

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bathurstbones

· #11 · Mar 10, 2009

Don't their chips come with instructions ?

Pics above seem pretty self explanatory as well.....

You Carrera Digital blokes wanna harden-up a bit and just chip them cars.....Big deal
if you make a mess of it, next time you won't (or shouldn't). Learn from it and move on....

The only people able to do a "step by step" are you Carrera owners...Get to it !

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b.yingling

· #12 · Mar 10, 2009

QUOTE (bathurstbones @ 10 Mar 2009, 10:02) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Don't their chips come with instructions ?

Pics above seem pretty self explanatory as well.....

You Carrera Digital blokes wanna harden-up a bit and just chip them cars.....Big deal
if you make a mess of it, next time you won't (or shouldn't). Learn from it and move on....

The only people able to do a "step by step" are you Carrera owners...Get to it !

Exactly.

When I said above that every car is different, I was referring to where and how you attach the chip. Possible chassis/interior/body modification to make it fit.

The wires go where the wires go. Always. They're color coded on the chip.

If you own a D132 car, and you can use a screwdriver to remove the body, you have a how-to. If you need anything more than that, you probably shouldn't attempt it. Unless you're willing to learn from a possible mistake....

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lgl007

· #13 · Mar 10, 2009

Ah... ok if they are color coded then no problem. Another question... what about the motor? I would assume some drain more power then others ... does one have to stick with, or close to, the Carrera motor specs when buying a car from a different manufacturer?

-Greg

b.yingling

· #14 · Mar 10, 2009

QUOTE (lgl007 @ 10 Mar 2009, 11:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Ah... ok if they are color coded then no problem. Another question... what about the motor? I would assume some drain more power then others ... does one have to stick with, or close to, the Carrera motor specs when buying a car from a different manufacturer?

-Greg

I haven't run into a problem with motors and the chip. Several Slot.it motors (21,500, and 25K- I haven't tried a Boxer2) and no issues. The hottest motor I've experimented with is a 36,000 RPM Rush. The chip had no problems with it. But if you pulled full throttle from a dead stop it would occasionally overload the amp draw on the Black Box, causing it to reset.

nbop

· #15 · Mar 10, 2009

Greg
The way I did my first one (scaley) was to opne a D132 car at the top of the bench and use it as a guide. It really is not that hard. As there are only 4 wire to deal with +- in +- out (purple and grey) all others are for the lights.

Neill

Todd

· #16 · Mar 14, 2009

QUOTE (lgl007 @ 10 Mar 2009, 14:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hey guys... been following this thread with significant interest. I guess the biggest question is... there a number of lead wires coming out of the Carrera chip. Which wires go where? If it's a standard analog car you are converting then each of these wires needs/will to go to a specific spot on the analog car... correct? I mean analog cars are so basic for the most part. So technically would the procedure not be the same for any analog car conversion (excluding Carrera cars that are build read for digital conversion)? It would be nice to see a step by step of any one particular Scaly or any other car... as I would imagine the procedure would not deviate much from car to car?

For instance, in my case I have used a soldering iron in the past about half dozen times so no big deal, but figuring out where all the leads go is... so it would be nice to see someone do a step by step of say a Scaley analog car conversion... Unfortunately until I can get my hands on such a thing I can't even begin to think of where the wires will go...

-Greg

When I get home from work I will post the which color wires from the Carrera chip perform which function. All of the Scalextric cars I have converted to D132 are older non-lighted cars using the old larger chip. Sorry I don't know them right off the top of my head.

Todd

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Nikko

· #17 · Apr 12, 2009

I have chipped 3 cars so far. 2 with the new F1 chips and one with one of the older chips. The biggest problem that you run into is the interiors of the cars. I was able to squeeze an older big chip into a Scaley DB9. It required cutting the drivers feet off and the bottom of the cockpit. The other 2 cars I chipped with the new F1 chips. The cars were older Fly models and required the same driver leg amputation. They had no lights.

Basically once you figure out the wiring combos your good to go. The Red and Black wire are connected to the pick up brads. The Purple and grey wires go to the motor. The other wires go to the lights.

If anyone has any ideas on how to chip a Scaley GT 40 let me know.

Quicktap

· #18 · May 30, 2009

I wanted to know if anyone has tried to chip any daytona prototype cars. I am really interested in the new sideways cars and I wanted to know if it is even possibel to chip them and if so what chip would I use. I hear that the nascar chip is a little to big.

nbop

· #19 · May 31, 2009

Quicktap
I chipped mine using the same chip used in the pictures on the first page. Worked just fine pretty much ended up looking the same as that car does.

Neill

Profoxcg

· #20 · Jan 30, 2010

from what I am gathering, if you don't care for interiors then chipping most car should be easy.
Its too bad that all these chips are larger than what they should be? (i am just saying)

If have a non carrera car with lights. For instance and analog scalextric, and I wanted the light to work, would I just splice them the wires on the chip?
My question is, is the carrera chip also a light controller.

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