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prime05 |
converting digital to analog |
Lead | |
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Has anyone tried doing this with the digital powerbase? I have two of them that have blown resisitors on them, so I have about sixty feet of track that I
can't use.
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Nor Cal Mike |
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Sure it could be easily done on a power base. I haven't been inside a digital controller so I don't know how they work. If they are a simple variable
resistor, thy should be convertible too. The only part of the power base that you would use are the 4 wires that tap into the rails. Everything else would go
bye bye. Facing the flow of traffic the right rail should be positive the left negative. One of these wires need to into and out of a variable resistor type
controller while the negative rail is connected to the negative wire from the power supply. If you use most any controller other than Artin, you can add brakes
by adding a third wire for brakes. The brake wire simply taps into the negative rail then connects to the brake wire in the controller. There are several
wiring diagrams out there on the web that you can find. Professor Motor has one on his site.
For the power side, you would simply need add a hot tap to each controller and a negative tap directly to the negative rail. Bear in mind that the Digi power supply at around 18 volts is a bit high for analog racing. It won't burn any thing up but your cars will launch like rocket ships. Think of it like having the digital turbo button working full time. I would convert to a Parma economy controller and add brakes. Wiring them requires adding simple #6 bolts protruding through the power base control panel as contacts. The controller then connects via alligator clips. I think that they were around $27 each last time I bought one. Adding brakes adds a whole nother element to racing. However, for the cost of two controllers, you could pick up a replacement Digipro power base. I think that Slot Car World has them . Brian at BRS Hobbies carries some Digipro parts too. You will have to chuck or rewire the lane change and pit exit tracks too to use as analog track. Their rails are wired as one lane for digital racing. To use them, you would have to separate power to the rails to right and left lanes. The changer mechanism would have to be immobilized too. If you choose to go the analog route, let me know, I''d be interested in working out a trade for replacement analog pieces exchanged for your working digital stuff. I also have a surplus two lane analog power base. Mike A
Last Edited By: Nor Cal Mike
06/11/08 03:38 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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Sin Un Nombre |
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Very detailed reply by Mike. Also, I'd like to add, all the track pieces, except for the pit lane, lane changer, and control panel are analog compatible.
So you could get a regular Artin power base, power supply, and controllers, and there ya go. One last thing, you would need to pull the chips from the cars. No
biggie, just take out the screw, desolder the motor from the chip, and run some wire from the motor to the guide. That's exactly what I plan on doing with
what's left from my set.
Jon I like my coffee hot and strong. Like I like my women, hot and strong......with a spoon in them!?!
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show33 |
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Prime05 - I have a brand new 4 lane analog power base, stock power supply and 4 controllers if you want to make me an offer. I think it would be your easiest
solution, Mark
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plus77 |
Re: converting digital to analog | ||
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Hey, Prime05 I have an Artin road set. When I got the Digi-Pro set I used the same track. All I changed was the " Lane change track, the pit stop, and
the power track". If you want to run analog you will need a power supply, an old HO train one will work, controllers for each lane, I have 35 ohm
Parma' s , and power stations. You will find articles in the forum on how to make power stations. All you have is a Straight track some wire , Speaker
wire will work, and hook it up. The wire from the stations can be hooked to the track , just strip it back about 3 " and push it in the rails on the
bottom. I do this for my booster tracks and have never had any problems!
Art Love that Spell Checker !!!!
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Nor Cal Mike |
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Here's a couple pics of some remote control panels that I built for my Artin 4 lane track out of Tupperware containers. You don't need a power base to
build remote control panels. All you need is any standard track piece with the wires tapped in as Art just described.
Mike A
Last Edited By: Nor Cal Mike
06/12/08 09:56 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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BRS Hobbies |
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Mike,
Nice job! What are the blue post hook ups for? Best regards, Brian
www.BRSHobbies.com - Free shipping offer! No backorders or delays!
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plus77 |
Re: converting digital to analog | ||
![]() Hi Prime05, Here are some pictures that I made of the power track. I got the kit box from Radio Shack. I put it all in a rather small box !!!!! It
was quite a squeeze. I use phono jacks for the controllers and it has reversing switches. The wiring is pretty standard for a home track. Any 12volt power
supply will work as the amps are low for most home tracks. I have run almost all brands of cars on this setup without any trouble. I usually lower the
voltage to ten volts, which makes it easier to hand the cars.
Have Fun!!!! Art Love That Spell Checker!!!!!!
Last Edited By: plus77
06/13/08 05:52 PM.
Edited 2 times.
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Nor Cal Mike |
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BRS Hobbies wrote:
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LLcoolGandalf |
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Prime05 - Which resistors blew in your controller? Same as mine? I am suspecting the power supply as the fault on mine... I'm having no luck finding a 1w
resistor, so will double up on some 1/2w resistors to get the right resistance and power rating. I'm also going to get a power supply that give out 15v,
not 25% more like the stock artin Digital one does....
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coznick |
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Prime,
Do you still need an analog power track and supply? PM me if your still in need. |
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prime05 |
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I actually was able to convert the digital power base to analog. Although, I do have to find a different power supply. I was intending for this to be for my
son so he can run his 1/43 cars on. 18v is just a little much!! anyway, the plan is to find a 6v, and cut the end of the original transformer off and attach
it to the 6v. Then, I can just plug it into the digipro powerbase. actually pretty simple.
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prime05 |
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LLcoolGandalf wrote: Looks like they are the same ones from the pics you posted. I actually had this happen to two powerbases. One, Artin sent me to replace the first. Went within two weeks of barely playing. So, I gave up and switched to carrera digital. Having a lot of fun, but i loved the layout I had for the Artin digi. Then again, we now converting Scalextric Indy cars to Carrera digital, which is what I wanted to do all along (run Indy cars). |
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