Tearing Down 3 Scalextric Car Kits from Analog to Digital - The Electronics Inside

David has enjoyed slot car racing since he was about 4 years old, and it's been a hobby around the world since the early 20th century. Digital slot car sets introduced in the early 2000s allowed for slot changes mid race and more than one car per slot, but how did they achieve this? And what are the differences between older analog sets and more recent digital ones?
Let's find out on The Electronics Inside! Discuss the episode and ask David questions on the element14 Community: bit.ly/3Pwf4Wq
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#0:00 The Electronics Inside
#0:17 Scalextric Slot Car
#32:55 Give your Feedback
#teardown #slotcar #slotcarracing #slotcars

[@iamthetinkerman]

I will never forget the smell that come from those remotes! I loved it!

[@tarbat]

There was an even earlier version of the track that just had straight pin connections and separate metal clips under the joint between each track piece. You could then get an adaptor track to join the very early version to the “early” 1974 version you’ve got.

[@tbk19656]

Thank you for the tear down. I really appreciate it. I have a 1968 set 31 with lots of track that accumulated. A Electra special and Javelin original cars. I am going to take out and add some new bits and see if I can convert the analog cars. Once again thanks for your time.

[@philhutchinson7849]

Wow I grew up with Scalextric !

[@slotcardude68]

Keep those slotcar videos coming!!

[@philhutchinson7849]

Wow encoding data into a powerline is very interesting

[@a531016]

I guess this is similar to how network power line adapters work?

[@haralamc]

Cant belive I waited 33 minutes and didn't even get to see them in action

[@M3PH11]

2:32 you have to remember that plastic fatigues over time and that plastic is 50 years old. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little more flexible than it should be at this point.

[@a531016]

It could be, but I'm happy to test if anyone has any ideas how to check what plastic is used?

[@Shadi2]

shouldn't it get stiff and brittle as the oil outgasses?

[@grrarg9319]

I used to have a TCR (Total Control Racing) set as a kid that didnt use slots but instead had 3 rails sunk into the track for each lane. Each car used 2 pickups underneath with a common rail and a rail specific to each controller. A switch on the back of the controller reversed the polarity causing the motors in the cars to reverse and turned a gear which switched a steering pinion left or right to let you switch lanes whenever you liked. There was a 3rd car called the Jam Car that used 3 pickups and so was powered when any one of the controllers was used. When players switched lanes the jam car would too. Great fun, but apparently discontinued due to safety changes.

[@l1a146]

So that first set from 1974 /5. The grandprix 8 set. Those arent the original cars that car with that set. The original cars were actually based on DN1 Shadows as per the box art. More specifically the red and white one that came in the set was based on Graham Hills DN1, I suppose they put in a blue and white one for contrast. I got that set in 1975 and it was so much better for learning skills like wiring and servicing the cars than the throw away sealed motors that modern cars have. The fact that they were fully servicable meant they could be repaired and last for decades. I know this because I still have that set 48 years later, still in great condition with all the paperwork and instructions. Apart from replacing tyres that went hard and lost their grip, replacing motor brushes at one point. And it still goes as good as ever and is still great fun.

[@Roland_Rohrle]

Older "Classic" Scalextric sets were ~12 volts DC. Scalextric Sport sets run a AC power supply that is converted to DC in the connector track section...

[@wgm-en2gx]

could they be using a DCC like protocol from model railroads? it uses an AC waveform that varies in freq to indicate a 1 or zero. Google dcc nmra (might be specific to the US but other similar protocols are used elsewhere)

[@Workshopshed]

That was my thought, Hornby and Scalextrix are the same company. The points work exactly as you would get in a railway set

[@petem.3719]

When I was a kid, slot car racing was a huge deal. A local hobby shop had a massive track set up complete with bleachers for spectators. I could never afford it, but grown men spent fortunes on slot car racing, showing up with big tackle boxes full of parts and spares to race in what I believe was some kind of pro or semi-pro circuit. I do remember there was money involved because my dad's friend was heavy into it, and I used to marvel at all the stuff he had. He always told his unhappy wife that his expensive hobby was "paying for itself". lol. I had no idea slot cars still existed in an era of video games. Certainly, no retailer would devote valuable floor space to a 40 x10 foot race track like back in the 60s and 70s.

[@codebeat4192]

Interesting subject. I think it is a carrier wave that includes the (digital or analog) signal like used at (for example) radio broadcasting. The information can be in the width of the pulse or the height of the pulse. It is more likely it is in the width of the pulse because there is too much noise on the track (and car connection to the track) to use the height of the pulse. A small capacitor can be used to smooth out the signal to drive the motor after the signal is analised. Did you know you can actually use solder wick to replace the brush contacts on the car? Very useful when the brush contacts are too wear out to use. Anyway, nice video.

[@MerPopcorn]

I don't think the 1974-version ran unrectified AC as claimed @7:15. I think it ran 12v DC. I (still) have the JPS Lotus pictured on page 10 of that catalogue - and I used my dad's 12v car battery charger to power it - didn't have the blue transformer (but the terminals on it say '+' and '-' next to them)). Apologies if I am mistaken

[@a531016]

It's definitely AC. I can confirm as I checked it with a multi meter and scope (neither made the cut for this unusually long episode)!

[@MerPopcorn]

@@a531016 Ok. I am confused. I rewatched the video again - and stopping the video @4:16 one can clearly read that the transformer says: Output 12 volts DC and 18 VA 2 Amp surge. Does that mean that it can use both? Thank you for another very interesting video!

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi , Very interesting, but can you run this on a train set???, All the best Brian 😃

[@dav1dbone]

Did not know that AC was used at one time, presumably less complicated in design, parts such as the controllers?

[@FireballXL55]

I am sure it was rectified AC with no capacitor, mine in 67 definitely was because if you put the car on the track facing the wrong way it went backwards.

[@dav1dbone]

@@FireballXL55 quite possibly, have no way of checking now. Always remember the prices of single pieces of track in the toy store, expensive.

[@grandsonofman]

11:22 yes they make different chassis for different makes and models of cars, even front motor configuration.

[@sprint955st]

I’ve got some 60s sets in the loft, uses a physically larger power supply and plunger controls that always smelled hot, the cars are 60s Le Mans style Porsche and Ferrari. The green and red cars you showed are the budget ‘Scaletti Arrow’ model not based on a real car.

[@TheGroovesRus]

The black analogue hand controller has three wires. The extra cable provides braking when the trigger is released by shorting the motor. It would've been cool to see the 'scope with some controller inputs made

[@merita4444]

I had the 300 set with minis and my dad having to put a plug on the transformer at 5am Xmas morning circa 1980

[@dav1dbone]

The comment from Fireball got me thinking, at no point in production could they have used AC on the track, they never had DC rectification in the cars, with AC the motors would/could turn in either direction, correct me if I'm wrong?

[@MAYERMAKES]

Aw these are great, i wanted to build up my childhood carrera track a few years back, judt to discover rats had raised families in the box. 😅 maybe i get a used one this year.

[@a531016]

Oh no! That's not how you want to see a cherished memory end up - I bet you could hack a digital set so you could race someone remotely?

[@MAYERMAKES]

@@a531016 oooh that sounds like a project

[@NiHaoMike64]

Try running a pencil over the bad potentiometers to fill in the holes in the resistive track.

[@ememeable]

Thankyou

[@ErrorMessageNotFound]

Is it similar to how powerline ethernet adapters work ?

[@losttheplot26]

Just clean up the track with a damp cloth for the plastic and autosol metal paste for the metal

[@mattsword41]

Tomy AFX for the win ;)

[@Mr.Beauregarde]

You need two solenoids so each can controller can control ((A)) solenoid.

[@ememeable]

Once again I now realize you are unfamiliar with pic microcontroller programming I refer to you without any specific pic family datasheet however the general If the chip is communicating via i2c the config is different Meaning data transfer either on the rising edge of the clock or vise verser Also there are other considerations regarding timing and interrupts etc Furthermore a linear curve regarding voltage and speed is simply derived with a " for loop" statement which usually ends with a ++ as you should know Once more thankyou for the history

[@boriss.861]

You're British SCALE---X---TRIC! Aaaggghhh

[@AmRadPodcast]

First 😁

[@element14presents]

Always.

[@DaRios_Tristan]

😂👍

[@ememeable]

Hi friend Its not a mystery Why not employ someone rather than give away hard earned knowledge Its not easy or a general topic as you are trying to make it out People like you think programming is just , if if if and then then then If A move Right If B move left It is a painful assumption knowing people who have spent years trying to integrate it If you really want to know read the literature

[@triplemikes]

Try tearing down a modern slide potentiometer and it may look similar to your worn out part.