Carrera Dual Mode Switch box - Lane Chipping or "Dualumbau"

[edmagner]

This thread covers a very specific method for running an analog car on a Carrera Digital track that allows the racer to still use the digital CU, power supply and controllers to run analog cars. The digital speed and brake adjustment can also be used. The concept was originally developed by Stephan Heiss from Germany, who is known as Slotbaer on Freeslotter.de and other forums. Stephan is behind many of the things we use every day in Carrera world without even knowing it. All of the aftermarket Timing and Scoring systems for Carrera rely on the groundwork done by Stephan to "crack" the digital datastream, including HSSRMS and SmartRace.

This thread will post all of the info to build this yourself as well as showing versions that are becoming available for sale.

Here are some links for Slotbbaer's original work

Slotbaer main site (in German, use Google Translate)

http://slotbaer.de/

Detailed instruction on the "dualumbau" dual conversion system

http://slotbaer.de/slotbaer-projekte...dualumbau.html


Link to PDF of English translation of Slotbaer

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xocciatw1p...

Here is an overall view of the system (in German, use Google Translate)

[Slotspeed]

edmagner I thought the doppelherz or doubleheart system was a method to integrate timing with the Carrera CU and the chosen compatible RMS. It uses a 555 timer to simulate the car ID and is triggered when a car crosses a light barrier. That was my interpretation. But the diagram you have shared is the correct one for lane chipping.


doppelherz timing (edit: German for double heart, "continue to use many digital components in analog mode" to quote Stephan Heiss himself)
http://slotbaer.de/slotbaer-projekte...oppelherz.html


Lane chipping
http://slotbaer.de/slotbaer-projekte...dualumbau.html

[edmagner]

Steve

Thanks for the input, you are 100% correct. I updated the post above with the correct links and descriptions. I personally didn't go down the path of the dopplehertz - it would be great if you could do a post expanding on this - we'll try to keep the names straight

Cheers

Ed

[Slotspeed]

I don't want to distract too much, but I note that the "Dualumbau" page on http://www.carrera4fun.de/ also looks quite good for information on this conversion. Might be a good secondary reference. Of course, google translate becomes our friend if we do not speak German.

[dw5555]

Ed does this help at all or is confusing the issue? The original pic is not available on SCI and I printed this out from there when I did mine. Disregard the written notes as that was the Radio Shack part numbers I used.
Dave

[edmagner]

Ed does this help at all or is confusing the issue? The original pic is not available on SCI and I printed this out from there when I did mine. Disregard the written notes as that was the Radio Shack part numbers I used.
Dave

Dave

this is great...just want to start compiling and archiving the history...

Cheers

Ed

[MX5]

Tek-Slots Dual Mode Switchbox has a good system for those of us who don’t have the time or knowledge to build our own. Mine works well, as advertised.

[rustymike12]

I have the Tek-Slots unit as well and it does work as advertised although I wish it would work with the curved lane-changers WITHOUT modifications. It also will not work with the lane avoidance unit which is disappointing.

[Slotspeed]

I read on an old SCI thread that there was an ACS that did work with lane chipping modifications (probably involved some extra wiring), I am sorry I don't know which one it was. Personally, I find that the further you get into slot cars, the more you find you need to modify things, I can see how frustrating it is having to modify the curved lane changers (I also am yet to modify my curved lane changer for dual lane analog use) but once you get it done it will be worth it - at least that is my thought. JTK, not only do you need to remove a jumper, you need to isolate part of the rail itself and wire it to the appropriate source rail for track continuity. At least that is my impression without having done it yet.

Edit: UglyBagofWater, noticed your comment below, good call.

[UglyBagofWater]

Rusty, the issue with the ACS is not with the TEK-Slot unit, any dualmode switch will have an issue with ACS. The problem is most of the ACS manufacturers did not incorporate reverse polarity protection in their system. When in analog, the rail polarity is reversed. I suppose a simple Schottkey diode in series with the power lead to the ACS would suffice to protect them.

As for the curved lane changers, yes, they will need to be modified, again regardless of the system used, as Carrera connects the two rails together on these, and that cannot happen with ANY analog system. Removing the jumper(s) has not had any noticeable ill effect on the performance of the cars.

[rustymike12]

Well aware of the issues, just wish it weren't that way.

[hrun]

Ed does this help at all or is confusing the issue? The original pic is not available on SCI and I printed this out from there when I did mine. Disregard the written notes as that was the Radio Shack part numbers I used.
Dave

Hi Dave,

This is great! Also the information with the RadioShack part numbers :-)

From where you got the original pic?

What does "8 position speaker plate" mean , and what you used that for?

[dw5555]

Hey Hrun, I printed out the original schematic from the SCI post when I was making mine to I have something to look at while I was doing it so the pic is from my printout that I still have. The Radio Shack part numbers do no good now as they're out of business but were from the same post. The speaker plate was the only difference where I deviated from the original build. The original has all the wires just coming straight out of the box to the track. I wanted the option of moving the box anywhere I wanted so I used a speaker plate to keep all the wiring in the box. That way I could disconnect it from the track easily.
Dave

[hrun]

Thanks, Dave !

Actually, the Radioshack part numbers still work - as Radioshack is back, at least online! And I found exactly what is needed, that's a great help.

What I'm not sure of, though, is where the push button and he LED in your wiring diagram is shown...

Now, that SCI is back online again: Do you still have the link to where you got it from?

[32lbking]

I only found out a couple months ago that Radio Shack was still around. They have not done a very good job of making that known. Glad to see them though.
Randy

[dw5555]

This is the entire thread (A lot of reading). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense without the pics though. The push button (momentary switch) are the small rectangles shown right below the chips. Below that are the toggle switches. I did not use the LEDS. I didn't know Radio Shack was back up either.
https://www.slotcarillustrated.com/s...witchbox%22%7D

[Slotspeed]

Link not working for me. Is this a link to your own build? Or the more general one that lots of people contributed to. The more general one had some questions/comments about a fried pitlane. Experience of my own (and many others) has shown that is not normally something that is a weak point, it put me off the modification for a long time, but glad I figured out it isn't a problem, at least for the version of pitlane that I have.

[dw5555]

The link worked for me. That is the link for the entire build. I never had a problem with mine. The only thing I had an issue with was making sure the crossover lanes were isolated. (I ground mine back) Without being isolated the individual lanes would not program independently. The current version from Tek-Slots accomplishes that without making sure of the lane isolation. I don't know how they did that.

[Earthbound]

Hello,

I just learned of this thread and wanted to clear up some confusion. The Lane Gate lane changer collision-avoidance products by Digital Racing Solutions can coexist with a dual mode track.


Facts about "dualumbau" lane-chipping:

• Polarity on rails in analog mode is opposite from digital mode
• Left and Right lanes must be isolated from each other

Facts about Lane Gate lane changer collision-avoidance products

• All types/versions are reverse polarity protected
• Standard installation method does not isolate left and right lanes
• All types/versions are dual mode compatible (work in digital mode and don't interfere with analog mode) with a small wiring change

DRS will have a dual mode supplement posted on our website soon.
UPDATE! link to how-to for wiring change -
http://www.digitalracingsolutions.co...r_DualMode.pdf


The statement on page 2 the TEK-Slots DualMode SwitchBox Guide claiming DRS confirmed they were not compatible is false. Hopefully TEK-Slots will correct their guide.


Mike @
Digital Racing Solutions

[Slotspeed]

I haven't tried your products Mike but sounds interesting and will have a look at the dual mode info when you publish it. Cheers.