Frankenslot wireless controllers for Carrera

[Rokon]

I just got my first Frankenslot wireless trigger controller.
How do you use the Launch control? Instructions only cover activating it or disabling it.
Which of the two pots is used to tailor the throttle curve and what is the other pot for? Is a plastic hex wrench needed or is a steel allen wrench safe to use.
The instructions on the Frankenslot site leave a bit to be desired….

[Rokon]

So, is anyone here using Frankenslot wireless digital controllers? There is very little English info to be found online. Not having much luck with getting translator apps working on my iPad….. My German is limited to a Hogan's Heros vocabulary.

[b.yingling]

I know some people do use them. Surprised no one has chimed in.

[Rokon]

I found a Utube video by Garagemakerguy from 2 years ago touching on his Frankenslot controller. He mentions the same thing. Instructions only cover turning the launch feature on and off but nothing about how to use it for a race start. He hadn't figured it out either. Saw no comments with the answer either.
Whats as odd as the lack of info online for using the feature is the total lack of any hits that it doesn't work and is a useless sales pitch.

[edmagner]

i'll take it to HRW Carrera page...

[edmagner]

delete

[Wet Coast Racer]

Hi Ed, it's great that you're trying to help out here. But please keep SCI rules in mind, such as ...

• No off-site linking, if you would like that content to be shared, it can be added to the article section here on SCI.

Thanks, Paul

[edmagner]

Hi Ed, it's great that you're trying to help out here. But please keep SCI rules in mind, such as ...



Thanks, Paul

better?

[Wet Coast Racer]

better?

Not really, this doesn't help anybody following this thread. If I figured it should just be deleted, I would have done that. But instead I thought a polite bit of guidance for future posts would be appropriate for future reference.

For folks who were wondering, it's been recommended that you find the Wiki item on the Frankenslot controller, which will then need to be translated (unless you're fluent in German). Google is no doubt your friend.

Post #6 was an uploaded pdf on the controller, I have no idea why that has been removed now as I don't think there's any rules about that.

[Rokon]

Thanks for the reply Ed. The Wiki entry is the instructions for the controller. They explain the various functions and toggling them on/off or make a selection. But there is absolutely nothing on actually using the launch control starting a race. Same for the pot to tweak the throttle control curve. They tell you it can be done but not which of the two pots do it or any mention of the second pot…. So I'm leery to touch either.
I haven't been able to get my iPad to play nice with any translation apps to try a decipher german sites or pages.
I figured the launch control would just inhibit the trigger pull input during the race start countdown and off you would go when things started. Not so. Tried holding the lane change button down and trigger down during start countdown but thats not it either. The feature is activated per the led blink and it is on as factory default.
Another odd thing with the directions. The on switch is three position, center off. Directions say move it to the right for wireless. Well, holding the controller in your right hand you actually move it to the left for wireless. (Away from the pistol grip)
The lane change button is much improved. It is now larger and flush with the grip. Much better than the little red button that protruded quite some ways out from the case.
Hopefully someone can shed some light on the controller functions…..

[b.yingling]

Are you sure 'Launch control' doesn't mean that when you squeeze the trigger quickly from off-to-full, the vehicle is sent intermediate steps on the throttle rather than none-to-full? On some controllers it is referred to as 'attack trim' rather than 'launch control'. Can't imagine how they could tie it to race start- the controller doesn't have that information. Sorry- I have no idea which pot adjusts it.

[Rokon]

Bruce,
I really don't know…
Excerpt from instruction sheet.
2. Launch Control can be activated or deactivated
1 x flashing deactivated
2 x flashing Launch Control is available
Selection between these two options: press briefly\ Save: press and hold until LED flashes quickly, then release again.\ Continue to next configuration step.

3. Selectperformancecurve
The performance curve defines how the pressing of the trigger get translated to the power delivered to the motor. The fine tuning is done via the trimmer on the side of the controller and can even be adjusted while driving.
Here in the configuration menu the basic curve can be selected. The curve is not modified if the trimmer is in center position. Turning it left or right bends the curve. Simply try it.
1 x flashing simple curve is selected – preferred by most people. 2 x flashing the S-shaped curve is selected.
The number of flashes indicates which curve is selected.

I was under the impression launch control would treat your car like a ghostcar at a race start and send you off when the countdown ends.

[MrFlippant]

There's an easy test. Turn launch control off, hold the wheels up, and go full blast. Do this multiple times, listening to how quickly the motor reaches its highest pitch/speed.

Repeat that but with launch control turned on. If you can hear a difference in how quickly the motor reaches top speed/pitch, then that's what it's doing.

As Bruce said, there's no way for the controller to tell the CU, or know from the CU, whether a race is starting or not, so there's no way for it to "hold off" on going full throttle. I think it's more likely to be something like the above. I can understand why they'd call it that. I recall some Top Gear episodes with various sports cars with such a feature, and it was basically a traction control to make sure it applied as much power as possible without spinning the wheels.

[BSWAN72]

I'm pretty sure launch control is a soft start which would be used when racing a slot car without the traction magnet to keep the tires from loosing grip while accelerating.

[Rokon]

It seems it would be pretty lame if launch control is a soft start. First there is no adjustment for it to dial in your particular setup. It is only on or off. If it is active than I guess it would also completely override the fully adjustable throttle curve profiles that is the other feature of the controller. Doesn't make sense to me….
I'll do some experiments this weekend and see what I can discover. One of the US Frankenslot retailers has made a request to clarify instructions and use on my behalf. They readily admitted the documentation is very lacking,
Hopefully someone on the forum actually has one of these controllers and will chime in.