Quick SR3 Update

Sorry for not spamming you all for so long. I’ve been slammed with this SR3 project, among other things…

Anyway, yesterday I abandoned my hardware/software solution after not being able to fix one of the two problems I’m encountering with the use of Phidget cards for primary lap counting.

Instead, I installed a Trackmate SCL3 USB card for the primary lap counting gantry (finish line/lap trigger). I’m not a big fan of this card but it does the job and seems to detect my fastest cars both individually and simultaneously, where the 0/16/16 Phidget card clearly did not.

And, Race Coordinator (RC) also supports this card. Because SlotTrak doesn’t support the much more desirable Arduino cards, I’m using the 0/16/16 Phidget card to handle the pit-in gantry sensors (much slower car speeds there), and two Phidget 0/0/4 cards to handle individual lane power.

I’m going to do more testing today and will begin to prepare for a coming track day to really flush things out. I’m going to need five drivers and the fastest, noisiest cars we have to run things through the paces and make sure everything works properly with SlotTrak. I’ll configure and test RC once I have SlotTrak rock solid.

If you have T-Jets and/or L10 cars, please let me know. I’d like to test a few this coming week and maybe do a track day on SR3 next Saturday. T-Jets and most “pancake” cars are very noisy electrically, which can generate phantom laps if track circuitry is not adequately shielded.

Okay, shut-up and drive!

 

Author: Race Director

Just an old slot car racer and Race Director at Stewart Raceway.

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