Digital mix n match

1561 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by fouldsc, Nov 2, 2004

subarumy98

Discussion Starter · Nov 1, 2004

HI

I have high hopes for Scalextric Digital, and figured I would be able to retain my large collection of Ninco track, and simply use the Ninco adapters to splice in some Scalextric digital lane changers every now and again.

I would be forced to use the Digital Power, controllers and cars too. This would give me the best of both worlds right ?

If I am going to run analogue cars, I swap the power supplies, and leave the lane changers, (normally open) and just race from there.

Yes, it will be a pain swapping parts around.
Yes, I will probably blow up an analogue car by forgetting what is connected.
Yes, I will curse the digital controller with the analogue power plugged in when nothing works...

but this should be do-able right ?
I have not seen this aspect covered in any of the digital set tests yet...

holding thumbs and toes.

T

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astro

· #2 · Nov 1, 2004

yes - my understanding is that the lane changers can stay in place - ie they will not electrically link the 2 lanes, and all the rest should be as you say as well.

According to scalextric, you do need to remove the analogue powerbase completely from the track to run digital, and vice versa, to avoid damaging one or both of the power bases.

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Swissracer

· #3 · Nov 1, 2004

A simple double pole on/off switch for each transformer, set to dissconnect the cables to the track for the relevant sytem (Digital or Analogue) should easily and cheaply do the trick.
In fact if you use a double, double pole switch that switches one system on and the other off at the same time is even better.

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fouldsc

· #4 · Nov 1, 2004

QUOTE (Swissracer @ 1 Nov 2004, 17:07)A simple double pole on/off switch for each transformer, set to dissconnect the cables to the track for the relevant sytem (Digital or Analogue) should easily and cheaply do the trick.
In fact if you use a double, double pole switch that switches one system on and the other off at the same time is even better.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heh you nicked my idea

I am planning having the analogue and digital powerbases not even in the track
itself , then just using a simply switch on there outputs I can choose which one is
connected to the track.
The only thing I will lose is the new digitals in built lap counter/timer - but I can
live with that (I think !)

Chris

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mrblue

· #5 · Nov 1, 2004

so how would you count and time laps?

without this there doesnt seem much point in going digital.

you wont be able to hold races so what would you use it for?

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astro

· #6 · Nov 1, 2004

i agree with mr blue - lapcounting is especially vital when you have loads of cars on the track! Maybe keep the digital powerbase in the track, but interrupt the power lines to the track as Swiss described, and have the analogue powerbase not inb the track, but wired to the other switch position... then surely it would be best of both worlds

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fast lucky

· #7 · Nov 2, 2004

I have a question for you : since you have a Ninco track, why don't you wait for their digital system to come on the market ? You can then choose between both systems knowing the pros and cons of each one. And if Ninco's promises come true, their digital system should bring the same or even more benefits than Scalextric's one.

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subarumy98

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 2, 2004

HI

Yes, waiting for Ninco Digital would be the right thing to do.......

and miss out on all that initial fiddly digital fun ???? As Billy Connolly said:

"We want this, and that! We demand a share in that, and most of that! Some of this, and f'ing all of that! Less of that, and more of this, and f'ing plenty of this. And another thing, we want it now, I want it yesterday, I want f'ing more tomorrow, and the demands will all be changed then, so f'ing stay awake!"

In fact, if there was a way of using the Carrera-X straight lane changers, (sounds odd when you read it doesn't it), then we could have the absolute best of both worlds.

Patience will definately pay off here, but I really don't think I would be able to wait that long.

T

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fouldsc

· #9 · Nov 2, 2004 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (astro @ 1 Nov 2004, 22:19)i agree with mr blue - lapcounting is especially vital when you have loads of cars on the track! Maybe keep the digital powerbase in the track, but interrupt the power lines to the track as Swiss described, and have the analogue powerbase not inb the track, but wired to the other switch position... then surely it would be best of both worlds
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hmmmm , your right (and so is swiss ) - that would be a better idea - cause I am so
used to Analogue racing I was thinking just two cars with lane changing.
Then when I read this I thought - but what happens if a car is on the different lane
past the lap counter , what happens if I got more than two cars - so yep , I
was very wrong on this one.
Swiss idea should work - I unscrewed the normal scalextric powerbase last night
and putting some switches in the wiring to the track is very simple , have to wait
until I get a digital powerbase to say if the same is true of that.

However I am laying off buying scalextric digital now simply cause the track I have
designed and REALLY want to build does not lend itself to short half straights followed
by R2 90 degree bends for lane changing - I need a straight lane change piece - come on scalextric , what you playing at !

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