Automatic Charge Station (ACS) - Page 2

Squishy · #16 02-09-2003, 10:01 AM

lookin good. My thoughts; you should put the two bars in the front so that they start where the normal chargiing spot was and curl up to the front grill, so you could have the two contacts just stick up so you kind of ramp up on to them. not sure how to get down though. i be thinkin about it a post later. seeya

Dutch · #17 02-09-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Now, a couple of thoughts
How about using gravity to help make better contact? Like build a small decline into the charging contacts.

Namuna,

Thanks for Idea.

I Just tried it and it works 90% better than being on a flat surface.

I'm still searching through my junk looking for more parts and ideas, Guess I'll have to scower the shelfs at work at see what goodies I can find

(I work in a parts warehouse that sells parts for: All Terrain Forklifts, Skid-Steers, Man Lifts ect...)

Habbi · #18 02-10-2003, 03:07 PM

Just a thought..... on the bottom of the car in front of the charging tabs are two smaller tabs (actually the same ones they are just shown again) You could solder small soft wire under the car so if hangs down touching the track, then install the metal strips on the base of the track , or build a small box with a ramp and mount the gear inside. Put some guide rails and have the car stop over top to charge.

Of course some kind of tachion field emmitter would be better, but since I can't find any dilithium crystals....

Dutch · #19 02-10-2003, 05:34 PM

Habbi,

I though about that but there would be to many problems I think.

1. The wire hanging of the bottom would cause drag
2. If you back-up the wires could hang and fold backward
3. It would be hard to keep the wires from touching and shorting out the battery

My goal is to make this as easy as I can

1. NO soldering on the car or PCB.
2. Can be made from stuff around the house (or very little money).
3. Can be used on almost any car.
4. No permanent damage to the car.

I want to be able to make up 5 of 6 sets and then when my friends come over then can just attach the set to the car and race and when there done take it off.

Squishy · #20 02-11-2003, 05:39 PM

you could leave it as it is, but have it strap onto the car, and just have it snap onto the bottom to get contact with the normal charging points.

Nathan · #21 02-17-2003, 07:50 PM

Why don't you put a coil on the car somewhere, then a coil on the stand. Then you would have an inductie pickup. Oh, and a diode to keep the battery from discharging into the coil. The coils must be the same size, so try steering coils.

mattsx2005 · #22 02-19-2003, 02:20 PM

ok i havn't done this yet but i will soon and i don't have a cam either so i am gonna attach a pic i did in paint

Squishy · #23 02-20-2003, 04:30 PM

that looks pretty good, but looks like you will have clerance and contact probs.

BenCloned · #24 02-21-2003, 06:44 AM

Try the method slot cars have been using for years: pick-up shoes and metal rails. You can raise the pick-up shoes so they don't contact the track, just the charging rails in the pits, or wherever you want them.

mattsx2005 · #25 02-21-2003, 07:44 AM

ben
that was basically my idea i juz used a piece of wood with holes instead of the track

Steve · #26 02-23-2003, 12:24 PM

I've been pondering this on for a while so I'm glad I found this thread. Has there been any progress on this project since the last post? My idea is this:

small rails on the track in a v-shape funnel the car into position, a blocker stops the car at the same point every time. Now, either electric or manually, charging posts raise from the track surface and make contact with the terminals on the car. When the charging posts are retracted, the blocker drops as well, allowing the car to leave the pits.

Dutch · #27 02-23-2003, 12:36 PM

Steve,

I'm still tinkering with ideas and have tried a few things with little sucsess. I know you know how hard the car sits on the charger when you push in on. You have to make really soild contact on the charging points or you won't get a good charge. If I did do a manual thing like you suggest you would need seprate stations where the drivers are standing which would defet the whole idea of automatic. But I open to all ideas (keeps my brain from being idle)

mattsx2005 · #28 02-23-2003, 12:47 PM

wat have you tried send pics

mattsx2005 · #29 02-23-2003, 12:49 PM

have u ever seen how a corless phone charges u could try something like that

Steve · #30 02-23-2003, 05:40 PM

[/quote][/b] If I did do a manual thing like you suggest you would need seprate stations where the drivers are standing which would defet the whole idea of automatic. But I open to all ideas (keeps my brain from being idle) [/b][/quote]

a while back, I pioneered the whole laser pointer lap timer project, and I was thinking perhaps, that I could use the same technology to trigger the charging mechanism. The car pulls over and blocks the light to a photo transistor, which triggers a short delay circuit, which then fires the slenoid and the charging contacts push up from the track and "jack" the car off the ground. Hopefully, gravity will be enough to make contact. I have a clone charging station that I put my 3cell Zip on and I just set it there and it works.

One advantage of the manual / remote switch would be variable charging times, as maybe you don't need a full charge to make it to the end of the race...a quick gas n go kind of thing.

I have no prototype yet, but here is a quick sketch. I've tried the rail funnel idea on my track and it was easy to hit and worked really well for lining the car up. The local Rat Shack didn't have any micro solenoids so that put a halt on things this weekend.