What you bought was a "Challenger" car that works with a special bit of track that let's the car run as a "ghost" car against other cars without a driver. It was an analog system that actually had adapters to let it race on Scalextric, SCX, Ninco and Carrera track.

Where are the lights connected to the car? At the pick up braids? Motor? Before or after the suppressor (ferritte man)?

 

Likely the issue here is that the LED needs a continuous voltage whereas ARC AIR provides a fast switching waveform (known as pulse width modulation). If this is the issue then you would need a diode and a small capacitor to generate a steady dc voltage for the light flashing circuit.

C

 

I was thinking the same thing but I don't have the vocabulary to state it.

This is a diagram I usually use: http://www.carrera4fun.de/3_elektronik/dauerlicht.htm

 

Thanks gents,

I had wired the lights direct to the motor. Looks like I will need to get some additional parts then.

Ron

 

Not a lot. The capacitor (also known as a gold cap) is just soldered in place. They usually can't handle more than 5 volts though so you need resistors or a voltage regulator.

Important is to pick a Farad value you are happy with. The higher, the longer the cars lights stay on but also the longer it take to fully charge. The lights will go on however even if the capacitor isn't fully charged yet.

 

I believe there are two distinct ideas in here... with different solutions...

To get the flashing circuit running on the ARC AIR we simply need a diode from the motor positive running to the positive terminal of a 25V rated electrolytic capacitor. Negative motor terminal to the capacitor negative. We can then connect the LED via its series resistor across the capacitor termnals. The PWM in the ARC AIR is running at a few hundred pulses per second so a relatively small capacitor value should be fine e.g. 10-100microFarads.

The idea of super capacitors - is that they can hold enough charge to keep the lights turned on after deslots... esp useful for marshalling while racing in the dark. Super capacitors are typically only rated to 5V - hence the need for a regulator circuit alongside the diode and capacitor.

So for your requirement a simple diode and conventional electrolytic capacitor should be fine... but definitely make sure the capacitor is adequately rated... I would suggest 25V as ARC AIR runs at 15V but may have some transition spikes too.

C