Scalextric Digital FAQ

Can I use old track with Digital?

A. Yes, but you can not use the old power base or transformers. Only use the Digital power supplies (C7004) provided.
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Starter or Conversion set?

A. The conversion kit contains the bare minimum required to convert your current track to Digital. The complete digital set (C1140) has an extra lane change track piece included in the additional 6.76 metres of track.
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Sport Digital - Basics - How many lanes are used?

A. Only a two lane system is currently available in 2004.
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Power - How many power supplies are required?

A. One digital power supply (C7004) is suitable for up to three cars. Two power supplies are required for four to six cars. It is perfectly OK to use two power supplies for a single car or any number of cars. It is also OK to use just one power supply for 6 cars but top end performance may suffer on large circuits but not so obviously on the standard C1140 circuit.
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Power - Can I use old power supplies?

A. No. You will damage the Sport Digital unit if you use an old transformer (C912 or prior). Always use the recommended digital power supplies (C7004).
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Cars One controller moves all the cars.

A. A controller, plugged in to socket '1', will control any or all cars that have an ID of 1. 1/ It is OK to drive more than one car with one controller. 2/ If you only want to drive one car with one controller (normal operation) then remove all cars with an ID of 1 from the track except the one you wish to continue racing. 3/ If you wish to race one of the cars with an ID of 1 but using a controller plugged in to socket 2 then you must program the chosen car to have an ID of 2. To do this follow the instructions in the Sport Digital manual. The basic steps are: a/ remove all cars from the track, b/ replace the chosen car on to the track, c/ use the Sport Digital power base menu system and select 'Car 2', 'Set ID' sub menus and set the ID to '2'. Exit the menus. d/ Plus a controller in to socket 2 on the Sport Digital power base. Controller 2 will now drive the car with ID 2. Car 1 can be replaced on the track and controller 1 will operate Car 1.
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Power Base How is it possible to keep track of 4 or 6 cars on 2 lanes?

A. The Sport Digital power base LCD display shows the ID, position and other relevant lap timing for the car as it passes the sensor in the power base.
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'OVERLOAD' message. What does this mean? What do I do?

A. The digital system has an automatic power cut function built into it to protect the Digital unit. Because there is constant power to the track there is a high probability of electrical shorts i.e. braid, someone dropping something metallic across the rails, a body screw from the car falling out and into the slot. When this happens the Digital power base recognises the short and cuts the power and displays ‘OVERLOAD’. The power base has to be reset by pressing the lowest of the four button group (the Set button) when OVERLOAD is displayed. If this will not clear the OVERLOAD message then do the following: 1; Disconnect power and remove the digital power base from the circuit. 2; reconnect power. 3; Does the ‘OVERLOAD’ warning display? If YES, then clean/blow both slots to remove any metal braid debris that may be lodged in the slot. Re test. 3a; Does the ‘OVERLOAD’ warning display? If YES, then the digital power base is faulty. Return to retailer for replacement. If NO, then Digital power base is functioning properly. Continue with these tests: 4; Disconnect power and replace the digital power base back to the circuit. 5; reconnect power. 6; Does the ‘OVERLOAD’ warning display? If YES, then an electrical short is present on the layout. Trace the short and retest. If NO, then the Digital power base is functioning properly.
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Digital Chip - retro fit location.

A. When retro fitting a Digital chip to a Scalextric car ensure that the chip is positioned as close behind the guide blade as possible. In theory, the chip can also work in front of the guide blade as well as just behind. When fitting the sensor chip behind the guide blade consider the distance between the car sensor chip and the lane change flipper and the distance between guide blade and flipper. Guide blade to flipper should be the greatest distance possible. The longer the distance the chip is situated behind the guide blade will result in the guide blade being closer to the lane change flipper before the sensor actuates the lane change flipper. This will increase the chance of the car not changing lane when driving at high speed. Therefore, fitting the sensor chip close to the guide blade ensures the correct distance between guide blade and lane change flipper. Additionally, the sensor should also be placed in the chassis so that it is immediately above the track slot. This is normally on the centre line of the car chassis.
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Digital Chip - Magnet location

A. The magnet doesn't affect the sensor. There are no restrictions on the location of the magnet.
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Digital Chip - black & blue guide blades.

A. When converting a car for digital operation note that BLACK guide blades are recommended. Blue, red, white and many other guide blade colours are invisible to the infrared sensors in the Sport Digital power base. Black short stem guide blades will be available in the Sport Digital range of accessories.
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Digital Chips - 'Saloon' or 'F1'?

A. Either Chip can be used on a chassis, space permitting. Their descriptions of 'F1' and 'Saloon' only reflect their general suitability for a chassis; the 'F1' chip being long with an elongated sensor board wire and the 'Saloon' chip being a more compact but larger unit.
Check out our USA site for more info at www.scalextric-usa.com
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Digital Chips - Car/chassis 'Upgrade' descriptions.
All cars can be upgraded. However, some need a great deal of hobbyist skills and other are a simple 'plug and play' affair.

The digital chassis descriptions:

DIGITAL READY CHASSIS: From 2004-2007...
Some cars made over the past three years have the mount points for the digital chip to make the upgrade easier for the customer.
The use of a screwdriver and soldering iron is required. The conversion may take 30 minutes to undertake.

DPR: From 2007 onwards...
Cars that have a DPR chassis accept the new digital plug. Most cars made from 2007 onwards will be designed with a DPR plug. This is a very easy to use plug and play design that makes inserting a chip a 30 second job.

Track - Power dips and breaks.

A. When a car stops on circuit this always indicates TWO breaks in electrical continuity since electricity travels in both directions around the track. If there was only one break then you would not notice it as electricity would have flowed from either direction! The way to correct this problem is to disconnect the track behind the power base. Then drive a car forward at a slow speed. When the car crosses from one piece of track to the next there should not be a drop in power/speed. If there is a drop or loss in power, then fix the track connection. Disconnect both track pieces (the track piece immediately before and after the fault). Turn them over and ensure that the metal rail tabs at the ends of the rails (there are 8 of them on every track piece) are fully pressed and clamped down to the plastic. Use a stout screwdriver or similar to push them tight. Reconnect the track pieces and retest by placing the car back at the power base and again drive the car slowly forward until you meet the next reduced or lost power section. Continue the above repair process until you get to the last track piece and then reconnect the last track piece to the power base.
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Aux Input - What is it for?

A. This is used for Digital accessories.
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Can I use RMS with Digital?

A. RMS is not compatible with Sport Digital for the casual Scalextric user. Technically, you can still use RMS. There's no reason why you can't use RMS as a secondary Race Control tool. You must still use the RMS half-straight if using RMS AND their are some limits and considerations: For instance, Arcade mode can be used by one driver with one car. The eventual result is displayed and then the next attempt is made to beat that result by the next or same driver. Digital and RMS can be used to clock the laps for the car BUT, for RMS to be correct, you must drive through the same RMS slot sensor on every lap. When using more than one car in a race, RMS will not know which car goes through its lane sensors if cars are changing lanes. So, if you want RMS to count each car correctly you must drive the car with ID 1 through Lane 1 to register a lap for car 1. Otherwise the car with ID 1 going through RMS lane 3 would clock up a lap for car 3 on RMS. Not what you might want - but it could be a basis for an exciting game in itself!
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Scalextric Digital FAQ from www.Scalextric.com