Digital change lane

[Ayrton]

Hello guys,

 

I want to buy Digital tracks to add on my "historical" track and I have a question about the straight lane change : how the player know in with direction his car will follow ?

I understood that when a player change lane (by clicking on the button on the controler) the switch keep the new position. It's true ? or the switch come back in the default position (straight).

 

Thanks for your answer.

[Andy P.]

Hi Ayrton,

All lane changes work the same. You press the button and as soon as the car hits the sesnor the lane changer switches over and resets to its original position as soon as the car passes.

That is why the straight switch has switches on both sides so you can easily go from one lane to the other.

Please note, you say "historical" if you mean Scalextric Classic track you will have to be sure teh track is in prestine and nearly perfect condition. Digital tracks need to be  very clean and have the best conductivity possuble.

[Ayrton]

Thank you for your accurate answer. 

One more question about change lane : I saw on some pictures that there are lane change on a curve. But unfortunately, I didn't find reference on scalextric site. Do you know if scalextric decided to stop producing change lane in a curve ?

[Andy P.]

Hi ,

I do know that they are no longer being produced but I a lot of old stock is still in circulation.

Good luck!

[Ayrton]

Do you have some advises of right change lane implementation on the track ?

Or no matter of the implementation ?

[Blagard]

Do you have some advises of right change lane implementation on the track ?

Or no matter of the implementation ?

You can put lane changes almost anywhere but they only work in one direction, so unlike an old analogue circuit where you could reverse the circuit direction easily just by turning the power base around, the digital lane change only work in one direction so all lane changes and the powerbase would need turning around.

 

The curved lane changes maybe in four types, all just one lane change unlike the straight that is two lane changes side by side. The curved changes are inside to out and outside to in, with both in either right or left curve directions. I think a few people had problems with cars coming off the track but I have never used them.

 

With digital you can have just one crossover track that changes the track into one huge lane using both tracks over two laps.

[michael_vickery]

I have incorporated two straight lane changeover tracks both facing right to left but when I try changing lanes the car(s) stop! In truth I don't know what I'm doing. Can you give me an idiot guide to successful implementation? Many thanks.

[gorp]

Would be nice knowing where toy stops but just guessing it is stopped by changer itself as opposed to directly on or  just after ( in which case that means you stopped yourself on dead section of straight dual changers) or on entering changer track ( which means changer is not getting power so realign and clean track ) .

Does the changer click when you start up power ? (not stuck then)

Is changer set on carpet or anything else that could block it moving ( mine sometimes is set on sheet of paper just to clear bottom of changer from supporting service) or on an incline or decline ?

Have you tried running cars in reverse ( left to right ) to clear changers if stuck ? ( works great for setting up to run analog by using digital cars to open changers) 

[gorp]

Thought of other things that could cause a problem.

Make sure you have at least a half straight before straight dual changer so that toy is moving straight when passing over changer eye.

Check your guides, the 2 piece round round should be properly assembled.

If using the 1 piece replacement guide it must be black and have an angled front per chipping instructions.

The car eye also must be clean and working.

Remove any magnets hanging under toy.

Other ideas will be found at slotforum.

[Blagard-01]

I have incorporated two straight lane changeover tracks both facing right to left but when I try changing lanes the car(s) stop! In truth I don't know what I'm doing. Can you give me an idiot guide to successful implementation? Many thanks.

 

Well I am sure you are not an idiot but maybe not informed. The first thing I need to ask is, do you have digital cars on a digital layout. Be aware that ARC Air and ARC One are not digital. Neither is the older scalextric sets unless they have a digital powerbase and digital chipped cars.

 

If for instance you put a lane change on an ARC One or ARC Air layout all that happens as you approach the lane changer is you hit the brake! - The digital controllers have two buttons on top, one for lane changing, one for braking. The Analogue controller have just the one button.

 

If your layout is in fact digital then you probably have operation issues as Gorp has described.

[paul_steel]

Al digital land  

[DaveC1950]

Hi I also have a lane changer problem

I have 4 bend single lane changers & trying to get them to work on an ARC Pro controller.

My digital cars work fine without any of the bends installed but still including a pit lane & 2 straight lane crossovers 🤔

Once one of the changeovers is installed as soon as the power is switch on to the track & the controller operated the power cuts out (short cct?)

All the bends test OK so not sure what the problem is?

[Andy P.]

"4 bend single lane changers"

I am not sure what these are. Are there numbers on the track or can you post pictures?

If you mean the legacy curved lane changer : Essentially the curved lane changers need modifications to work with older ARC PRO powerbases. This has been documented multiple time here so give the search a try.