21 replies to this topic

[gzminiz]

Has anyone added a variable brake to the standard PM controller? Been considering this upgrade to one of my controllers but I read the instructions and wondering if i should bother.

[slotbaker]

Yeah, I did on a 2nd hand one that I ended up selling. It's easy enough to do, and works well.

I think variable brakes are a bit of a waste of time, fo my type of racing.

I know some people back off their brakes to let the car roll into the corner, but I find that I can usually drive past those people by braking latter into the corner, and powering back on about the same time they do.

I still have a controller with adjustable brakes, and use it on full brakes most of the time.

Only time I back off the brake is with 1:32 cars with magnet down force. I don't like the instant stopping.

My main racing is 1:24 scale with cars that handle pretty well, so they can handle going deep into the corners.

There is no right or wrong answer here, just personal preferences.

[gzminiz]

most of the time i am happy with full brakes, but some cars get unsettled with too much brakes (mainly my LMP) $20 figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal to help those that don't like too much brake

[slotbaker]

Well, if you can do it, and don't have an issue with the $s, then go for it.

You don't have to use the variable brakes if you don't want to, and it's there to try if you do.

Plus, if you decide to unload the controller, variable brakes would have more re-sale appeal, than one without it.

[Ronan]

I added both brake and sensitivity pots to 3 of my 4 PM controllers (the 4th one I bought later and with them already installed). I found the toughest bit was I had to drill out the solder filled holes where the metal contacts of the pots need to go through the main "board" of the controller, but once I had them in place I just soldered them in, tightened the screw and they were done.

However, the brake pots I installed have all now failed and I suspect it's because they did not have the heat sink plates on them. The 4th controller came with a neat looking heat sink. I bought 3 of the heat sink plates and 3 new pots to make repairs on the other 3 controllers but I haven't got round to fixing them yet.

I find the throttle sensitivity adjustment best as it allows the controller to be matched to any car in my collection.

Probably will be a while before I get round to repairing the controllers I have though as pretty much all my slot stuff is packed in the attic and my lovely 4 lane track has now been ripped out and has gone to a slot racing friend. Unfortunately I really spent too much money on ebay over the last 4 months, my better half found out and it was the track or me, so the track has gone.

Pretty gutted I have to say, but I brought it on myself really. Maybe I'll be allowed to build a new track down the line, but the one part of the house I could call my own (my den/slot car room) is now going to be cleared out for the kids, as they only have one playroom as it stands.... Oh well, I hope they put me in a nice nursing home when my time comes! LOL!

Anyway, gone off topic! But personally I think the adjustable pots for the PM controllers are a great idea!

[slotbaker]

Gotta agree, the sensitivity pot is worth having, especially for those cars that don't handle too well, but you like to play around with.

Ronan, bummer about your situaion.

[gzminiz]

hum, i didn't see any "kits" or "instructions" on how to do the sensitivity, need a biz that can do it locally! lol

Edited by gzminiz, 04 March 2010 - 11:44 AM.

[slotbaker]

Yeah, I just checked the PM site, and it looks like that option has been deleted.
If I remember right, it was a bit more tricky than the brake, but still ok to do for someone with some soldering ability.

I think I may still have a kit and paperwork at home, as I bought a few different accessories a while ago, but I'm not sure what is left.

I'll check and post what I find out.

[kalbfellp]

I have fitter a brake pot to 3 of the PM diode controllers. I used a 10 ohm wire would pot from DSE. The pot is bigger that the PM one but does fit O/K.
Is your controler diode or transistor type?

I have also added sensitivity to diode controllers.

Phil

[gzminiz]

kalbfellp, on Mar 4 2010, 03:37 PM, said:

I have fitter a brake pot to 3 of the PM diode controllers. I used a 10 ohm wire would pot from DSE. The pot is bigger that the PM one but does fit O/K.
Is your controler diode or transistor type?

I have also added sensitivity to diode controllers.

Phil

transistor style

[slotbaker]

slotbaker, on Mar 4 2010, 01:31 PM, said:

I think I may still have a kit and paperwork at home....
I'll check and post what I find out.

Nup, only got the brake conversion, and polarity reversing switch kits left.

[gzminiz]

thanks for the look anyways, I appreciate it.

[Ronan]

slotbaker, on Mar 4 2010, 01:26 AM, said:

Gotta agree, the sensitivity pot is worth having, especially for those cars that don't handle too well, but you like to play around with.

Ronan, bummer about your situaion.

Thanks Steve, I only have myself to blame. Still, a bit of a financial diet is just what I need right now and maybe in a year or so I can think about another track. Next one will be modular and only set up for when the guys are round for racing. I would love a small one on a single sheet of MDF for testing though, but I'm on thin ice at the moment so need to keep the head down and more or less forget about slots for a while.

[kalbfellp]

Quote

transistor style

I don't think PM have ever offered any upgrade kits for the transistor versions of their controllers. Variable brakes should be able to be added with out much of a problem BUT may need to be isolated from the board. Adjustable sensitivity would be a more difficult. Best bet would to see if you can borrow a controller with this added and have a good look at it.

I recently converted a negative gate controller to positive gate for a board member by doing that. Cost was low with only a few parts required, but did take some time.

[neil]

having difulcity finding suitable post,, want to know about wirring in a brake pot to a parma resistor controller, I'm guessing its straight onto to red wire[ wired to brake post]. dia.grams could help if anyone knows where to find. cheers

[slotbaker]

neil, on 30 December 2010 - 05:34 AM, said:

having difulcity finding suitable post,, want to know about wirring in a brake pot to a parma resistor controller, I'm guessing its straight onto to red wire[ wired to brake post]. dia.grams could help if anyone knows where to find. cheers

Yep, just put a 25 ohm wire wound pot. in the red brake wire.
This is on the BSCRA site so ingore the plug connections for your/our application.
Just scroll down a bit to see tha adjustable brake (Brake Boxes) section.
The pot should fit in the top/front of the Parma with knob pointing straight out.

[neil]

thanks Steve,
The next prob if it is, is that I've already purchased the pots[no biggy] and are valued at 1000ohm {b1k} from Jaycar. have asked and lowest they have is 500ohm I'm told. Will this be a prob to work with?
Also read somewhere amongst arhive that diodes could be used as a brake adjustment. do you think?
again the search bar is not the greatest here.
cheers.

[kalbfellp]

The pots you have are way too big, 25ohm would be the max. The other option is to use a rotary switch with diodes on it, this works well as I was using them on my last controller.

Edited by kalbfellp, 30 December 2010 - 04:56 PM.

[neil]

kalbfellp, on 30 December 2010 - 04:55 PM, said:

The pots you have are way too big, 25ohm would be the max. The other option is to use a rotary switch with diodes on it, this works well as I was using them on my last controller.

is this also wired into the brake wire

[kalbfellp]

This should help you,just look at the brake info.