Controllers

In this video I discuss the stock 120 ohm AFX controller and how poorly it controls cars other than the Mega G +.

[@marcusserven4119]

Thanks for the info Mark! I run Mega-G+ cars on standard AFX track. As I get back into the hobby in my retirement years, I am finding that I want to upgrade some of my cars, track, and controllers. You've got the kind of videos that are really helpful to me as I think these changes through. Again, many thanks!

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Marcus, I am glad you find the information in my videos helpful.

[@uofmhockey]

Great example of how different ohm controllers affect the way a car will run. Upgrading to a better controller makes your racing experience a whole lot more fun. Thanks for the video Mark.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks U of M!

[@terrencelacy9432]

​@@marksslotcargarage is there a video to how to splice the afx plug in ti the Diflaco controller

[@marksslotcargarage]

@@terrencelacy9432 I never did one, I spliced mine be for I even had a KZbin channel but I can probably do a video explaining it. I will see what I can do.

[@marksslotcargarage]

​@@terrencelacy9432I don't have any AFX terminals available right now to use but it's pretty easy to do. You just have to cut off the alligator clips, twist the white and red wires together and attach them to one of the AFX terminal wires, do the same for the black and green wires from the Difalco controller and attach them to the other AFX terminal wire. How you want to connect them is up to you, I soldered them and used heat shrink tubing to give it a nice look but you can get away with just twisting the wires together and using electrical tape. When you plug the connector into your terminal track if the car runs without pulling the trigger you have it backwards and just need to turn the connector around in the plug.

[@terrencelacy9432]

Thank you so much will be trying this weekend

[@slotslidershoslotcars]

Great video. Good quality controllers really take racing slot cars to a whole new level of fun & precision.

[@marksslotcargarage]

They really do! It makes the experience so much more enjoyable. Thanks.

[@shawnhurley8737]

Thanks for the video Mark very good knowledge keep up the good work I'm going to enjoying all the videos

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Shawn! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Blueridgeracing859]

Love the DiFalco’s

[@nyyommm9640]

Very helpful video. I have a several different track sets and cars from different time periods and couldn’t figure out why some cars were janky and some weren’t.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful.

[@alexweingart1650]

Thank you for this video. I'm just getting back into slot cars after over twenty years. I had a custom made controller when I was younger, but didn't know why I needed it (raced 24th scale) and now I do. I've also just purchased a wizzard hard body car and now I'm wondering if I'll need to pick up a lower ohm controller now. I will also say that all the auto world cars I've got from hobby lobby work great with mega g+ stuff.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks for watching my video, I am glad you found it helpful. I would go with an electronic controller with a sensitivity knob if you can, you will be glad you did, you can run just about any HO car with one of those controllers. The OS3 Lite and Difalco DD505 are two good budget transistor controllers, they both work well for home use.

[@Drummerboy67]

Thanks for the great info especially when we have different tracks from HO to 143 to 132 to 124 lol-is there much out there on the market besides Defalco they can change the arms on the controller? Thanks 👍🏎️🏎️🏎️

[@marksslotcargarage]

You're welcome, thanks for checking out my videos. You can also check out OS3 controllers and TruSpeed.

[@flashtech6492]

Thanks Mark well done... excellent... knowing what you need to do before laying that cash down buying something that will not fill your needs....

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks! I appreciate that.

[@BigRalphSmith]

For HO cars with set type track, I've really found that the original Parma controllers with the ceramic resistors are the most ideal. Yeah, the electronic controllers will work fine but they are less tolerant of the varying voltages and lower-than-ideal current so common in home track setups. I also find that the resistor based controllers ramp up and down much more smoothly in how they deliver power across their sweep range. The electronic controllers just seem to be much easier to break than the OG Parmas and let's face it, an electronic controller is a much more significant investment than a resistor based controller. If you race on routed tracks with lots of modded or high power cars, electronic controllers are all well and good. I find myself wishing they would bring back the old Russkit set controllers. Those things were built like tanks and they were pretty affordable... and user servicable.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks BigRalph, That has not been my experience, I find my DiFalco controllers to be much smoother than any resister based controller I ever had even on my stock AFX track. I had Partma and DS controllers for for a while and they were good controllers but to me they can't compare to the DiFalco controllers but each to his own, that's the fun of this hobby, so much to chose from.

[@BigRalphSmith]

@@marksslotcargarage I understand where you're coming from. I know other hobbyists who swear by their electronic controllers but I've had too many negative experiences with them and they have cost me way too much in purchase and repair expenses so I eventually dumped them off. Have you ever had to send a Difalco unit back for repairs? I've had to send back two Third Eyes and two Professor Motors and it always seems like the more expensive the controller, the more likely I'll have problems with it. Maybe I've just had bad luck with them but, as I said, I even found the feel of the electronic ones more uneven and inconsistent. Maybe it's just me.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Sounds like you have more experience with them than me, to be fair I have only had my DiFalco controllers for less than a year, I hope they hold up and I don't experience any failures like you had, I can see where it would get costly having to repair/replace them.

[@youknoweverything7643]

This is why I can only run the mega g plus car with the controller that my afx track came with originally it came with a 120 ohm controllers for them and they run perfect with it but when I put like a tyco on it it's real erratic and takes almost full throttle to get them going so now I know I will need new contollers. And it seems like the cars go faster when you get the right ohms going to it in the controller to I will need to buy a adjustable controller I saw where a guy made a variable controller for 10 bucks and worked great

[@marksslotcargarage]

Yeah the 120 ohm controllers will only work with the new Mega G Plus cars, you will need a lower ohm controller for just about everything else. A variable controller is the way to go in my opinion, it lets you run just about any ohm motor car.

[@twsw9449]

I have developed a esc and controls with patentomitur triggers it's awesome no more resistance to deal with awesome so many options

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks for checking out my video. Yes all the options this hobby has are awesome.

[@CalvertFitness]

great video as i just bought an older ho track and am finding it difficult to control geese stupid things. the ohm difference is the big question

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks! Yeah a controller with a variable sensitivity is the way to go, they can control all of your cars.

[@clnfreakone8486]

Professor motor controllers with independent lane chokes and sensitivity adjustment is what I run on my road course and Parma on my drag strip…. They are both larger and feel better in the hand and run just about anything with the lane chokes

[@marksslotcargarage]

That's what's great about this hobby, there are so many options.

[@clnfreakone8486]

@@marksslotcargarageI’m actually going to be ordering a defalco dd501 soon as my travel controller 😊

[@brianyoung8226]

Hi, great video, Just bought a Victory 400 track. I also bought 4 viper 6 ohm vipers 1 and half ohm viper, 2 an half ohm viper The vipers don't work very well with the stock controller,. Would I be able to use my 1 to 4 ohm 1/24 scale controllers on these cars. I used these controllers to run group 7 Koford cars,

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks! I am not familiar with 1/24 scale but I think a 1 to 4 ohm controller would be too low for the Vipers, even low ohm ones. You need in the 20-40 ohm range for those. I highly recommend a controller with a variable sensitivity adjustment, you will be able to run pretty much any HO car with that type of controller.

[@brianyoung8226]

Thank you@@marksslotcargarage

[@Patriot_Hobbies]

Great video. Great advice.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Matt!

[@Gale_Force_Raceway]

Oh yeh... I ran into this as well. Different cars want more/less. I upgraded to DiFalco's most basic controller (no brakes) but I honestly haven't hooked them up yet because I'm still struggling with wiring... uhg

[@marksslotcargarage]

I have the same DiFalco controllers, the DD505, I have been very happy with them. Hope you sort out your wiring soon and hook them up.

[@Gale_Force_Raceway]

@@marksslotcargarage Yup- I recall ! And yeh I really gotta get movin - every time I post in the FB group, I get 14 answers, and 12 are different.

[@terrencelacy9432]

Is there a video to show how wire the diflaco controllers

[@johnnyirwin9838]

Great information thx you for your knowledge 😊

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Johnny!

[@jeromeharris5197]

I have (4) of the 505s without break. How much difference do you notice with the braking feature on the Afx track? Is it truly worth the upgrade ? Or slightly noticeable? Thanks

[@marksslotcargarage]

To me, it was not worth it at all, that's why I did not do my other controllers. If you run mostly high down force magnet cars the brakes don't do much, at least they did no do much that I could tell. They do help with TJet cars that don't have a lot of down force.

[@sed6]

For me the easiest & cheapest solution is a variable power supply. My Parma 45 ohm controllers work well on 440x2, x-trac, m-trac and SG+. Variable voltage let's me run the cars slower for the kids too. The math equation is simple V=IR. Way cheaper and more functional to vary the voltage instead of the resistance.

[@marksslotcargarage]

The 45 ohm controller will run all those cars well but probably not Mega G plus cars, even if you lover the voltage the Mega G Plus would need a higher ohm controller.

[@SIMONSEZ23]

thank you. Perfect example why its so unfortunate these are in any sets this day and age; they should discontinue to put these cheap pieces of junk in sets and people all through the community complaining the cars of most all other types don't run right and can't keep them on the track and so on Due t these things. Even if they would put a controler like the old 1974 orange AURORA HOBBYCRAFT adjustable (but with a diff ohm rang) or DS like multi-position type controller, it would be so much better (NOTE: the 120 ohm are not for most all cars but MG+ and vintage aurora T-jets) Those seeing this -- other variable controller options are the Professor Motor controllers> the basic being only $63. the OS3HO LITE.. and actually BRAKES and NOT NEEDED for most home hobbyists playing and using plastic tracks ; evenfor racing for titles and fun - mostly for T-jet FRAY racing or more semi pro or professional type racing on mostly professionally routed tracks, but of course, one can wire the home track for brakes and use these type controllers. All this info and wiring diagrams on the web and possibly some YT videos on it. NOTE: the gray AURORA/TOMY controller is a 70 ohm as are the older tyco and other controllers that came in sets. $63 to 90 bucks is the #1 best investment you can get for your hobby- the cost of only two or three cars these days to have the very best possible HO Slot car experience.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks and I agree, unfortunately the manufacturers are never going to put a better controller in the sets due to cost. At least we have all the options you mentioned and yes I agree spending a little bit on a good variable controller like the OS3 Lite or Difalco DD505 is well worth the cost.

[@MyFlash43]

How does 45 ohm do with the Super 7 and Viper Spec (Level 4 > 6ohm arm) car?

[@marksslotcargarage]

I would think a 45 ohm controller would work OK with a 6 ohm arm. I don't have any 45 ohm controllers but my old 60 ohm AFX controllers worked fine running those cars.

[@fordtough83]

Where did you find the 505? I can't find a 505. 500,201,502,504,506,507 are available but no 505.

[@marksslotcargarage]

For what ever reason the 505 is not on the DiFalco site but they are available from DiFalco off of eBay or contact DiFalco directly via email and you can order direct and save a few bucks.

[@louisrevera5327]

Good to know about the Difalco 505 controller to get my Grandkids used to those simplified way to get them to move into the AFX Racing and move them up The Aspect how to use controllers better good job.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Louis, glad it was helpful.

[@jacksparrow7300]

Hello I have a AFX MEGA G+ track. But my viper cars don’t run as well. Is there a controller that works with all 1/64 scale cars. All options welcomed thanks in advance.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Hi Jack, If you plan to use the AFX terminal track and your track is not wired for braking I would suggest the Difalco DD505 for $89 on eBay or direct from Difalcoonline.com. The DD505 will control just about all HO cars well. I use it on everything from TJets to 2 ohm Viper Neo cars and everything in between and it works great. If you plan to wire your track for braking then Difalco DD500 or DD501 are great options. I use the DD501 personally on my Viper track.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Good intel here.!

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks Bill!

[@rustyholland7139]

Are there many adj between low ohm and hight ohm are they easy to adj

[@marksslotcargarage]

That depends on the type of controller you get. Some controllers have no adjustment. The diFalco controllers I use are very easy to adjust for any given ohm motor. They have a sensitivity knob that you adjust till you are happy with how sensitive the trigger is.

[@michaelbloch3491]

What height is your track table?

[@marksslotcargarage]

32 inches.

[@kimaniwilliams6344]

Your power supply will work fine

[@marksslotcargarage]

Thanks, this is an old video on controllers, not sure what you are referencing about the supply?

[@GAguns]

This isn't just true on ho my 1/43 cars with stock controllers are taking of at 3/4 of throttle.

[@marksslotcargarage]

Which stock controllers? Were they designed for the 1/43 cars? it's hard for me to comment as I really only know HO. No matter what scale a good controller makes all the difference.

[@GAguns]

@@marksslotcargarage they are the controllers I found in the box. This was in a big box in my grandparents wardrobe. I'm completely new to the hobby I literally have it since last week.

[@marksslotcargarage]

@@GAguns What kind of track system?

[@GAguns]

@@marksslotcargarage it's some old ninco track