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 Minnesota Speed |
Power Question |
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Posts: 14 (07/03/09 11:37 AM) |
Does any one know if you can use a car battery and plug straight into scaley sport power terminal to use hand controllers with out having to wire them in. I
am looking for ease of use where there is no electricity.
Thanks Chris |
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Da Vols |
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Posts: 5330 (07/03/09 11:49 AM) HRW Moderator |
You can do it, but definitely make sure you put in a fuse because of the very high number of amps a battery has.
Scalextric uses an AC power supply that is converted to DC at the power base - you will lose about 1.5 volts to the track because of that. Also, the power base wasn't made to handle a high number of amps running though it so it is suggested that you hard wire any aftermarket power supply to Scalextric track. An alternative would be to get a Ninco power base straight and adapt the power base to a Scalextric straight - just take apart and solder the 4 wires to the appropriate rails and trim the case to fit. It accepts Scalextric plugs for the controllers and power supply and also has a reverse switch...but don't forget to fuse it.
Da Vols - Bruce & Harriet & Kali
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ddyke |
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Posts: 4194 (07/03/09 12:04 PM) The 'Scrap Man' |
I have done the Ninco thing -- it works. The amps issue Bruce has warned about is important and not to be trivialized. Car batteries are very powerful. Some
can provide the energy necessary to turn over a 454" Chevy and the more powerful 427" Ford. Short a battery and you can melt track and cause flame. 1
amp fuse per lane will handle most motors that we use.
Clintus Eastwoodius, "Age. Fac ut gaudeam!"
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Minnesota Speed |
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Posts: 15 (07/04/09 03:10 PM) |
Thanks
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Da Vols |
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Posts: 5331 (07/05/09 10:05 AM) HRW Moderator |
Some RTR motors will draw 1 to 2 amps briefly - I haven't a clue about the sensitivity of fuses so you may have to do trial and error to get the right
amperage amount.
Da Vols - Bruce & Harriet & Kali
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plus77 |
Re; Power Question | ||
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Posts: 490 (07/05/09 03:40 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
We used a car battery for years, for slot car tracks. Some precautions!!!
Always make sure your circuits are fused. Right at the battery is best. A 5 amp fuse should handle anything you have. Make sure your battery is in a plastic container and vented. Set a car battery on your carpet and the carpet is ruined!! Art Love that Spell Checker !!! 
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Nor Cal Mike |
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Posts: 816 (07/05/09 04:19 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
My track has been powered by a battery for three years. I'm using a battery mostly so that I can power up by solar cell. I 've used a couple of old
batteries over that time that I took out of my car(s) during battery replacement. I'm currently using one out of my Miata which is a pretty small battery.
I use only a small trickle charging solar panel to keep the battery charged and it keeps up with my slot car power drain with no problem. One of these days I
may add an inverter so that I can run the PC that operates my lap counter off solar and a variable power supply. It might take a slightly bigger solar panel to
run the inverter. Then again, I may find a lap top that I can operate directly from the battery, eliminating the need for an inverter. Like others said, fuses
are a must. Ventilation is too. I use a 5 amp fuse between the battery and a main power switch. The biggest draw back that you only have a constant 12 volts.
You can use diodes on a rotory switch if you want variable power.
Mike A |
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racer1h |
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Posts: 35 (07/05/09 06:00 PM) |
What are you up to .. taking a slot car track camping or something?
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revracer1 |
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Posts: 1408 (07/05/09 09:48 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
Hey Chris,
I like your new avitar. Hurry up and come back racing on Thursday nights ok? Live Long & Prosper, David. |
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