Al slotcar tracks use DC voltage to power the track. This voltage should
be as flat as possible. If you use
the ones that came with the track, they are oke most of the time. If
you use a different one make sure
that it has a flat DC with no noise. Noise on the track can cause Timing
systems to act very strange..
This is because the cables that run from the timing to the parallel
port, and the ones that run to the
sensors on the track pick up this noise as an antenna would do. They
pickup the magnetic pulses
and from this induce current in the cables. How do i check if
i have a good DC ? Use a
osciloscoop, if you don't have one or don't know what it is, get your
voltmeter and put it on
Volt AC, now measure the voltage on the powersupply.
The voltage you see is the noise on the track. If you see stuff like
that use a Electrolitical capacitor
over the + and - to filter out this noise. If you use batteries don't
worry the DC is very flat
on these ones !!! (Capacitor 470uF 63v Electrolitical with + and -)
The controllers (with resistors) als create magnetic fields which can
cause electronics to go
strange, put the electronics for timing and the sensor/parallel cables
as far away from the controller
as you can, also try not to cross to many track sections with the cables
to get to the PC parallel port.
A Brief History and Tips of Racing Power Supplies