Useful Information & Advice
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Scalextric Sport & Digital 1:32 track reference guide
Scalextric Classic 1:32 track reference guide
Scalextric Classic to Sport part conversion chart
Scalextric Sport & Digital 1:32 track reference guide
Table showing the letter references which are written on the underside of each Scalextric Sport track:
|
Part number C7039 Digital electronic lap counter |
Letter Ref EC |
Scalextric Classic 1:32 track reference guide
|
Straight Track C160 Standard Straight |
Inner Curves C156 Inner Curve 90º Standard Curves C151 Standard Curve 45º |
Outer Curves C153 Outer Curve 22.5º Banked Curves C187 Banked Curve 30º Track Accessories C710 Track and Bridge Support Pack |
Specialist Track C248 Hump Back Bridge |
Scalextric Classic to Sport part conversion chart
Table showing comparison of Scalextric Classic track to Scalextric Sport track
|
Part name Straight |
Classic part C160/PT60 |
Sport part C8205 |
Substitute
|
Scalextric Digital
Compatibility between analogue Scalextric and digital
Digital cars will work perfectly normally on an analogue power system but analogue cars do not work on the Digital power system. Analogue cars may be permanently damaged if used on Digital track.
Why? The analogue control system is the traditional method which uses a basic resistive coil of wire in the hand controller to control the D.C. voltage sent to the track and car. The wires from the braids, in the car, connect directly to the D.C. motor.
The Digital system uses frequent digital data messages from the controller to a microprocessor fitted in the car. The track has an A.C. power supply which also goes to the microprocessor in the car. This microprocessor then controls a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) power feed to the D.C. motor based on the digital data messages from the controller.
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
Scalextric ARC Pro v0.4
Power boost cables
How and when to use Scalextric power boost cables or power taps
Scalextric power boost cables are used to improve power delivery around a slot car track, especially larger or more complex layouts. Sometimes called power taps or jumper cables.
Here’s what they do in simple terms:
🔌 What problem they solve
On longer Scalextric tracks, power is normally fed in at one connection point (the power base). As electricity travels through the metal rails and track joints, some voltage is lost. This can cause:
Cars slowing down far from the power base
Uneven speed around the track
Cars hesitating on straights or after tight curves
⚡ What power boost cables do
Carry power directly from the power base to other sections of track, bypassing the resistance of the rails and connectors. This results in:
More consistent voltage all around the circuit
Even car speed everywhere on the track
Better performance on long straights and technical sections
🧩 How they’re used
One end clips onto the underside metal tabs of a track piece near the power base
The other end clips onto a distant track section
They’re fitted under the track, so they’re hidden during use
Multiple taps can be used
🏁 When you need them
You’ll benefit from boost cables if:
Your track is large (many pieces)
You notice cars slowing in certain areas
You’re running high-performance or multiple cars
You use Digital Scalextric (more sensitive to voltage drops)
If you have large layout you will probably get a significant voltage drop across the track joints. The further the track is away from the power base, the more it will be affected. If one car dismounts, it can cause another to fly off.
Power boost cables are sometimes called power taps or jumper cables. Scalextric Sport reference C8248 and Classic reference A252 or C252.
When you fit power boost cables you will even out the power all round your layout. Boost cables are most essential when you increase the number of cars on the track at the same time. It's not about the size of the layout but about how many joints there are. More joins = more voltage drop. You may not need jumpers if the connections between the track sections are in decent condition and the lap length is reasonably short.
The general principle is that you need to get power from as near to the powerbase as possible to the furthest points (or slowest points) on the track. They are usually connected to the piece of track before or after the powerbase.
One wire per rail or two wires per lane is required. Remember to do wire lanes.
The connectors just clip on to the track tabs underneath. Make sure that both ends of each cable do go to the same lane or your will create a power outage. Scalextric Sport digital and analogue tracks have the booster cables connected using the same principle as each other.
Disconnect power and fold the flange up
Slide the boost cable on
Connect to a straight or half straight. Curves do not have these connectors.
The common rule is to use a power boost cable every 3 meters or roughly 10-15 connections.
You will need classic boost cables for classic track and Sport for Sport track.
Rather than running your jumpers from different start points, it is preferable to run them all from the same source. That way, the same voltage is guaranteed to be delivered to every jumper cable.
Further example:
Call one lane/slot RED and one lane/slot YELLOW. Each lane/slot has a PLUS and MINUS side. The ideal way to connect is to run a cable from the PLUS/RED rail adjacent the power base to the PLUS/RED rail as far from the powerbase as possible or in the affected area. Do the same for the MINUS/RED, PLUS/YELLOW and MINUS/YELLOW.
If you can't run them all from the same source, then run them from track as close as possible to the powerbase, for example:
If anything short circuits there will be smoke and possible sparks so take your time, follow the lane/slot around and if you have a multimeter. Double check before applying power.
FAQs
Can I use a second power supply on the opposite end of the track?
NO. Power base provides power to separate lane when throttle pressed, second one would drain power. This is specifically not recommended by Scalextric as it could damage the powerbase circuits.
Another reason is the power needs to go through the controller to the track, your controller cannot be in two places at once. There are methods of using two power supplies but it requires advanced technical knowledge and is not part of this discussion.
I have the advanced technical knowledge, should I add an extra power supply?
Boost cables and extra power supplies do somewhat different jobs. If the cars haven't got enough power anywhere on the track doubling up the power supplies will help. If the cars are slow just on the other side of the track, jumpers will help and extra power supplies won't.
Does the power boost in the direction away from the power track such that I need to jump before the car slows down?
Yes
Will I see a difference if I add a jumper wire to a 20 metres / 65 ft track?
Only if the track isn’t well put together. If there are any gaps in the track you might. But 20m isn’t that large.
This works for analogue but will you need more for digital sets?
Power taps are used to make sure a track has good power continuity. The type of track they are used on isn’t relevant. Digital or analogue tracks can both have power loss.
Do I have to tap both lanes on the one track piece and not just 1 lane?
Your choice really. If you are only noticing power drop on one lane then you could get away with just one rail but it is always worth doing both rails.
Should I daisy chain the boost cables around the layout or radiate from one point?
Radiate. If you daisy chain then you stack the resistance. This means that each connection steadily gets worse. If you start from one point and fan out to each required point, each track piece will receive the same power.
Read in conjunction with safety information Click Here for safety information.
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