ARC Pro

A small switch on the side of the ARC Pro is used to change from analogue to digital. If you are using digital cars, please make sure it is switched away from the track, as shown in the above image.

 

Lane changing track

Scalextric C7036 digital lane changing straight can be used with the ARC Pro. Scalextric C7007 C7008 C7009 C7010 digital curved lane changers will not work with Scalextric ARC Pro v0.3. See below for v0.4 info which will work.

Scalextric C7014 C7041 pit lanes will work with ARC Pro if used in the standard configuration.

Nesting i.e. two pit lane entry pieces followed by two exit pieces will not be a problem because all the pit lanes are powered from the first entry lane.

Using a pit lane piece in reverse to turn two lanes into a single lane chicane will not work.

The above issues occur because the ARC Pro powerbase needs to have a layout where there are always two lanes that are powered independently. Each of those lanes can be split to power more lanes but can never be combined back in a way that electrically combines the powerbase lanes 1 and 2.

Analogue Crossover tracks C8203 (Not the crossroads C8210) must be in pairs. The pair of crossover curves C8203 will work with ARC Pro and should not be confused with the Digital lane changer curves.

Power booster cables must be used strictly in the same way as you would for Analogue circuits.

The C7039 digital lap counter will not work in a circuit with ARC-Pro.

 

ARC Pro powerbase hardware and firmware upgrades

Hornby have upgraded the ARC Pro in 2018 to v0.4. This revision allows the ARC Pro to work with crossover curves. It also improves reliability with car ID pickup and a resistor upgrade so laps count if the lane change button is pressed when the car crosses the powerbase sensors.

The main differences between v0.3 and v0.4 are:

1) Track polarity correction.
2) Sensor resistors swap-out (2.2k Ohms to 510 Ohms).
3) Some modifications to how dual PSU power is handled.
4) v0.4 PIC18 firmware v2.4 or later.

How to tell which version of powerbase you have, or which you are purchasing

When purchasing, the title will say which version. To tell which version you have, in the top corner of the underside (sometimes this is in other places on the underside) there is a batch ref embossed.

The batch ref will look like the following:

This says 2519ERF01

The first four numbers mean week 25, year (20)19.

This means it was manufactured in the 25th week which was June.

The first hardware upgrade (polarity) was included in all powerbases with a batch ref of 1418REF01 or later, i.e. powerbases manufactured from the beginning of April 2018.

The second hardware upgrade (lap counting) was included in all powerbases from week 22 or June 2018.

Therefore, this example photo is v0.4

Another way to tell the difference between v0.3 and v0.4 by visual inspection is to look through the slatted heat vents (i.e. looking from the track towards the powerbase) you should be able to see the two white mouldings of the JST sockets. These are the connections for the two pairs of track sensors. If they are symmetrically positioned about 3cm apart, then it is v0.3. If they are asymmetrical and more like approx 6cm apart, then it is version v0.4.

Scalextric ARC Pro v0.3