John, just an update after thorough testing investigation etc. I found out my control unit is actually faulty.will follow up after a new unit arrives tomorrow.
I didn't realize that CU track wasn't once piece. Cool idea to separate those. I may do the same but only to reverse the CU to the other side as sometimes the track design ends up with the controls facing the inside of the track instead of the outside where it's difficult to operate. Thanks for the vid.
John, just update as I have been working to solve power to control connections. A few questions for you: number one, why does a power connection directly to my control unit sans terminal block fail running at 5 A 15 V? 2) Power to terminal block and control connected to terminal block works. 3) why did power directly to the control unit fail? Was it a compromise in control track wiring or something else? Would a backwards and placed adapter unit cause a problem here? 4) relegated to running the original wall wart transformer, is it possible to run remote driver stations and charger stations via terminal and power unit? You’ve been a great help and I feel very foolish right now.
John, if I understand correctly, all pairs of wires will terminate in blocks? In other words you did not cut the wires to lane one and lane two and the control unit just to extend the wiring and re-solder them back together correct? As I am planning my layout all track wires, power jumps etc. will terminate in a block and that block will connect to the main power block. Thanks in advance for a great series you are definitely the Carrera guru!
Hi. Yes, I connect to terminal blocks, mainly for service/repair means. I went from the CU, to a terminal block, to the track (and other terminal blocks around the layout). This allows easy removal of a connected track section, or the CU if necessary. Also, having distributed terminal blocks around the layout makes connecting everything very easy to wire up. Hope this helps!!
John, on a related issue, is it true that the pit stop refuel tracks must be aligned With the control unit/starter track piece? I want to run a dual pit area but want to Make sure pit track pieces are independently accounted for on my driver’s display units. Many thanks!
No. You can add the pit lane refuel track anywhere. If it is far from the CU, you can disable lap counting for the refuel track (default is to count laps).
John, thanks for these videos! Have a question on control units generally. I received two control units from a lot that I bought back in '21. I'm almost positive they are toast as they don't turn off when I toggle to the "off" position and only cuts power to the track when I power off my variable power supply. In addition, my cars just run at full speed without any input from the individual. My question is, is there a way to be absolutely sure they are "toast" and if so any way to fix them just to have as spares?
Is your variable power supply powering the CU directly? (meaning plugged in to the CU, replacing the factory power supply). If the voltage and current is set correctly, should work...
@@slotcarmayhem9765 yep all connected correctly with inline fuse from the VPS. Tried resetting the CU to no avail. Haven’t opened up the CU yet because wanted to try all other avenues
If it works when close to the power source, try running power taps to the piece directly connected to the lane changer. Might be voltage drop due to a bad joint(s). Could be dust or dirt inside the mechanics of the LC. Might need a drop of oil... Many reasons why it may not work reliably...
I am still curious if your CU to track connections ( both rail and sensor) polarities are correct. Does it work if the CU track piece is isolated from the rest of the track? That would indicate possibly the rail connections are reversed. If not, that might indicate IR sensor lead(s) polarity reversed. I also assume you are using the correct power supply... Can you take a pic of the CU and track Wiring connections? That might help...
thank you , I'm in contact with Carrera I find I'm getting 16.57 volts at the power head and 18 volts at the supply / no cars on the track / the hole tack is getting 16.57 volts
hi john hope u r good today....they call me mooch.iam 70 years old..iam 70 years old...iam retired .i was into slot cars back into the early 60s..iamgetting back into it now that i have the time...iam into the carrera digital 1/24 sets..your videos on slot cars r the best i have seen to help someone who is a newbe get into this hobbie..ok that said what i would like to know when u wire your track to the best power in the track...irun all my wire to the box ok..but where do i get the power from to spark the box up,...i think u said from the control box.if so how do u run the power to the box ..thanks for your time great videos...
Hi Mooch!! If I understand, you're asking about powering the control unit? If powering the CU, I just use the factory power supply for now. They do make an adapter to power the CU from an aftermarket power supply. I will upgrade to that in the future... The 1/24 require different power if I recall correctly. Thanks for the kind words!!
John, these videos are great!! Just one questions, you fed the power to the terminal block from the CU off the bottom of one of the adjacent tracks to the CU? Or did you just tap into the CU track when you split it?
I run track feeds directly from the CU, to a main terminal block, and that distributes track feeds. Since I remote mounted the CU, the start-finish line section is tapped to the main terminal block, all other taps are fed from their closest terminal block. I have zero intention of running analog on this layout, so the connection is made to one lane, and jumpered to the other lane. Analog running required the lanes to be isolated, hence one feed per lane. Hope this helps!!
John, after completion of the relocation procedure, I had a problem at start up. Facing the control unit all lights lit up except for the second light left side. Are these related to a particular problem or a particular Lane? I know I’ve got some troubleshooting to do maybe a heads up would help. Thanks in advance.
John, I would love to send you some pictures but I’m not exactly sure how. If you could email me your address without RUclips interference I could get the pictures to you. If not IM at a complete loss as to how to go about doing that. Thanks for your time and effort.
John, just an update after thorough testing investigation etc. I found out my control unit is actually faulty.will follow up after a new unit arrives tomorrow.
Thank you for letting me know!! Good luck!!
Very cool
I didn't realize that CU track wasn't once piece. Cool idea to separate those. I may do the same but only to reverse the CU to the other side as sometimes the track design ends up with the controls facing the inside of the track instead of the outside where it's difficult to operate. Thanks for the vid.
Easy enough to do that. Good idea!!! I never thought of that!!
John, just update as I have been working to solve power to control connections. A few questions for you: number one, why does a power connection directly to my control unit sans terminal block fail running at 5 A 15 V?
2) Power to terminal block and control connected to terminal block works. 3) why did power directly to the control unit fail? Was it a compromise in control track wiring or something else? Would a backwards and placed adapter unit cause a problem here? 4) relegated to running the original wall wart transformer, is it possible to run remote driver stations and charger stations via terminal and power unit? You’ve been a great help and I feel very foolish right now.
John, if I understand correctly, all pairs of wires will terminate in blocks? In other words you did not cut the wires to lane one and lane two and the control unit just to extend the wiring and re-solder them back together correct?
As I am planning my layout all track wires, power jumps etc. will terminate in a block and that block will connect to the main power block. Thanks in advance for a great series you are definitely the Carrera guru!
Hi. Yes, I connect to terminal blocks, mainly for service/repair means. I went from the CU, to a terminal block, to the track (and other terminal blocks around the layout). This allows easy removal of a connected track section, or the CU if necessary. Also, having distributed terminal blocks around the layout makes connecting everything very easy to wire up. Hope this helps!!
John, can I add my old evolution track pieces to my new digital set?
Evolution, yes. Same track.🙂
John, on a related issue, is it true that the pit stop refuel tracks must be aligned
With the control unit/starter track piece? I want to run a dual pit area but want to
Make sure pit track pieces are independently accounted for on my driver’s display units.
Many thanks!
No. You can add the pit lane refuel track anywhere. If it is far from the CU, you can disable lap counting for the refuel track (default is to count laps).
John, thanks for these videos! Have a question on control units generally. I received two control units from a lot that I bought back in '21. I'm almost positive they are toast as they don't turn off when I toggle to the "off" position and only cuts power to the track when I power off my variable power supply. In addition, my cars just run at full speed without any input from the individual. My question is, is there a way to be absolutely sure they are "toast" and if so any way to fix them just to have as spares?
Is your variable power supply powering the CU directly? (meaning plugged in to the CU, replacing the factory power supply). If the voltage and current is set correctly, should work...
@@slotcarmayhem9765 yep all connected correctly with inline fuse from the VPS. Tried resetting the CU to no avail. Haven’t opened up the CU yet because wanted to try all other avenues
my single lane changer won't work do you have any thoughts on this problem / well works sometime / when its close to the power station
If it works when close to the power source, try running power taps to the piece directly connected to the lane changer. Might be voltage drop due to a bad joint(s). Could be dust or dirt inside the mechanics of the LC. Might need a drop of oil... Many reasons why it may not work reliably...
John, after a new C.U. Was installed as per the previous one, it too failed. What could impede the unit from startup? I’m completely befuddled!
I am still curious if your CU to track connections ( both rail and sensor) polarities are correct. Does it work if the CU track piece is isolated from the rest of the track? That would indicate possibly the rail connections are reversed. If not, that might indicate IR sensor lead(s) polarity reversed.
I also assume you are using the correct power supply...
Can you take a pic of the CU and track Wiring connections? That might help...
thank you , I'm in contact with Carrera I find I'm getting 16.57 volts at the power head and 18 volts at the supply / no cars on the track / the hole tack is getting 16.57 volts
Voltage sounds good. Lane changers work on 13.3v reliable (D132). Might be a bad LC...
@@slotcarmayhem9765 I'm new to this , what is LC / Thank you for your time / D124 SET
@@slotcarmayhem9765 LANE CHANGER/ LC /GOT IT Thanks
hi john hope u r good today....they call me mooch.iam 70 years old..iam 70 years old...iam retired .i was into slot cars back into the early 60s..iamgetting back into it now that i have the time...iam into the carrera digital 1/24 sets..your videos on slot cars r the best i have seen to help someone who is a newbe get into this hobbie..ok that said what i would like to know when u wire your track to the best power in the track...irun all my wire to the box ok..but where do i get the power from to spark the box up,...i think u said from the control box.if so how do u run the power to the box ..thanks for your time great videos...
Hi Mooch!! If I understand, you're asking about powering the control unit? If powering the CU, I just use the factory power supply for now. They do make an adapter to power the CU from an aftermarket power supply. I will upgrade to that in the future... The 1/24 require different power if I recall correctly.
Thanks for the kind words!!
@@slotcarmayhem9765 thanks for the info..keep up the good work...
John, these videos are great!! Just one questions, you fed the power to the terminal block from the CU off the bottom of one of the adjacent tracks to the CU? Or did you just tap into the CU track when you split it?
I run track feeds directly from the CU, to a main terminal block, and that distributes track feeds. Since I remote mounted the CU, the start-finish line section is tapped to the main terminal block, all other taps are fed from their closest terminal block.
I have zero intention of running analog on this layout, so the connection is made to one lane, and jumpered to the other lane. Analog running required the lanes to be isolated, hence one feed per lane. Hope this helps!!
John, after completion of the relocation procedure, I had a problem at start up. Facing the control unit all lights lit up except for the second light left side. Are these related to a particular problem or a particular Lane? I know I’ve got some troubleshooting to do maybe a heads up would help. Thanks in advance.
I would disconnect 1 lane, then try. Make sure lane polarity is correct... please keep me updated...
Is your keyboard connected to, the VIM3?
Yes, the keyboard and mouse are wireless units, and connected to the VIM-3. Solid and works great.
@@slotcarmayhem9765 Nice, I have both sitting on the floor in the throw away pile, guess they'll have a 2nd life.
John, I would love to send you some pictures but I’m not exactly sure how. If you could email me your address without RUclips interference I could get the pictures to you. If not IM at a complete loss as to how to go about doing that. Thanks for your time and effort.
Timm, my email is johnkoehler421@gmail.com.