Carrera Go Controller modifications

[Rinkrat99]

Hi all,

Returning to Slotcars after many moons away.

Purchased a Carrera Go 43rd scale set this past Holiday. Going to purchase an expansion set #3 to create a bigger layout.

I am not a fan of this Turbo button which goes full throttle on smaller tracks. I found an article to remove the Turbo Boost trigger but this would leave only approx 70% of the throttle.

Has anyone modified the controller to allow 100% when fully depressed with the current wiper resistor?

I noticed from tests that an onloaded voltage per lane is 14.5Vdc while at 70% throttle it is 10.8Vdc. The car pulls approx 200-300mA

I was thinking I could increase the power source from 14.5 to 17 or 18Vdc where the 70% throttle would be around 14.5Vdc. Any thoughts?

[BARC 1]

Here is a couple of pictures that will help





Before Mod



After Mod



If you don't want brakes ignore adding the brake wire.

Cheers

Dan

[Rinkrat99]

Thanks Dan

OK I see the method being used to limit the voltage. In all cases except the Turbo Boost being ON, the min resistance would be the 33 ohm 1w resistors. Another method could be to reduce the 33 ohms to a smaller resistance. I only see schematically the winds in series with the 33ohm to the RED lead for track power. Where is the center pin tied to? Is it tied to the RED lead as well? Looks like it.

After the mod, does the Turbo Boost become the Brake?


Thanks

[pfuetze]

i would remove the resistor in the power track section and go for aftermarket controllers with around 60 ohms.

[BARC 1]

[Rinkrat99]

Thanks all. I actually have the power track with a single DC input but have not gotten to taking that apart yet. I may either use an external PS with single input at 14.5Vdc 2A or go for the new dual input track. Either way the mod now makes sense but would need to decide if the removal of the resistor would make the throttle poor for my 10 yr old daughter. She has been playing with the BOOST and of course cannot control the car. A 60 ohm option makes sense. Would that be a Parma Economy? Would 60 ohms be too high? http://www.homeracingworld.com/throttlecontrol.htm indicates 45 or 30 ohms may be better but then its for a 1/32 car. And being a EE muself I am thinking of ways to use some test equipment to figure what works best for me too. :)

Thanks for the feedback.

[Rinkrat99]

any suggestions on how to open the terminal track to expose the PCA? I removed the two screws and seems a post near the opposite side is holding it in place but then the bottom of the PCA seems like it too is secured by some means. Are those three pry tbs inside the two controllers and PS input?

Thanks

[BARC 1]

There me be a hidden screw under an inspection sticker. I am pretty sure once you remove all the screws the plate comes off

Dan

[Dodgefarmer]

Hi Rr99 and welcome to the fun. The track piece of the power connection is just a 114mm small straight. Once the screws are removed the track has to be pried off the base (note 4 tab circular boss's on the underside of the track. I have an article in the building tips thread (just above this thread. The one thing that I discovered with this mod is that the turbo brake would brake both lanes at once when applied.
This is my latest mod.

http://homeracingworld.us/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13034

Randy

[pfuetze]

60 ohm parma eco are a good choice.
(if you find Ecos ... i think they are out of production)

for making driving easier for kids: lower the voltage with some cheap DC step down voltage modules available on amazon or ebay ...

[Rinkrat99]

Thanks all, I can see why the single power tap would brake both lanes, you are basically shorting the V+ to Gnd. On a dual input terminal the brake would work. You could add a Resistor back in series with that Brake for that single lane though. Would have to test it. Damn a quick Xmas gift for Dad is quickly letting me spend more $$ for what I would like rather than just fun.

Next step is adding the track and then determining what pieces I need or just buy a 2nd set.

[pfuetze]

i would buy a 2nd set.
in that way you get a 2bd power supply and be able to seperate the lanes by using 2 power track pieces.
use lane 1 with controller 1 on power track section 1 and use lane 2 with controller 2 on power track section 2.

this helps to remove the "power surge"
when one car deslots, the other will get a power boost.
of course this effect can also be "used" during racing. (braking in a way that the opponent gets too much power ;) )

[Rinkrat99]

Hi all

Got my new set "GT Competition"! Going to modify the 2nd Terminal track but removal of two screws leaves two bosses that are snapped.

Suggestions on how to loosen these?

[pfuetze]

got a picture?

[Rinkrat99]

[img]http://s349.photobucket.com/user/Rinkrat1966/media/Carrera%20Terminal%20Track1_zpszm4yec3l.png.html?filters[user]=146074948&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0[/img]