MCC & Cars

Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2015-06-01 00:31

Hi Andrew,

First of all, no need to apologize for using English. Actually we're glad someone is posting in another language than Dutch

It's strange that you have to reduce the loop-current to make it work. Normally the standard 500mA setting is fine. If you lift the car above the road, is there a hight where it starts to work? And are you sure you have not intermingled the A and B loops? At least I've never seen the problem so far.

If you permanently want (or need) to reduce the loop current you should be able to do that using the "Permanent" checkbox in DinamoConfig. Have you tried that? If it does not work I'll need to have a look into that, but as far as I can tell it has been tested ok.

Then the firmware update problem. You cannot load UCCI1.xxx firmware in an UCCI/E. The 1.xxx firmwre is for UCCI (without the /E). Although functionally the difference is minimal, it's completely different hardware. You will need UCCIE2.xxx firmware (so with an "E") in the name. It was not on the forum galleries since at the moment there is only one version and it does not make sense to do any upgrade. However I just posted the UCCIE_2.0.0.0 in the file galleries so you can restore your firmware.

Please let us know your progress.

Kind regards,
Leon

Posted by Andrew Hughes on 2015-06-01 13:16

Hi Leon,

Thanks very much for your reply last night.

I'm pleased to say that two of the issues are now sorted. I have re-loaded the firmware and can now set the loop current permanently (stupidly, I didn't see the "permanent" checkbox!).

Loop A and B are definitely separate. With 500mA current setting, the car works very reliably when you lift it 15-20mm above the road. It doesn't work on the road.

With 200mA setting, the car works most of the time. However I have increased the time out on the car to 256 (maximum) to try to keep it going. Sometimes it can take 4-5 seconds for the car to pick up a command. At the moment I'm only running 1 car, so this isn't a problem.

In case it is relevant, here is some info on the layout and a photo:

- it's an oval of road with a bus stop
- The car was converted by MCC Model Car Parts, after Eurospoor last year
- I have used the pre-formed road templates, covered in a very thin layer of plaster
- The loop wire is 7/0.2mm equipment cable

Any ideas to make it more reliable would be gratefully received and thanks again for your help last night.

Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2015-06-01 13:42

Andrew,

I've asked MCC-ModelCarParts if they've notices anything strange about the car. Let's give them some time for an answer.

Do you have more cars or just this one?

In the meantime, could you do a test, just to make sure that the problem is not in the layout?

Make a simple small loop on a (wood, plastic) table or similar surface. 50 cm is long enough and you can simply stick the wire by tape or so. Connect that to one of the UCCI/E loop interfaces and check what happens.
The green LED next to the loop interface in use is steady lit? And it goes off when you disconnect the loop?

Also, there are four 1 Ohm smd resistors on the UCCI/E (quite large, identified by 1R0 on them). Could you check they don't get hotter than just slightly warm?

Kind regards,
Leon

Posted by Andrew Hughes on 2015-06-01 21:51

Hi Leon

Unfortunately at the moment I only have one car, although I have another on order which should be here in a week or two.

The green LED illuminates when a loop is attached to the UCCI, and goes out when I remove the loop. I have checked this for loops A and B.

I set up a test loop (see photo), which behaves in the same way as the main layout. However there is one possible clue:

I set the loop current to the default 500mA. I originally set the gap between the loop wires to 25 to 40mm. The car doesn't respond, unless I lift it 2cm in the air.

With 200mA loop current, the performance was better but not brilliant. There were sometimes delays of a few seconds before the lights came on.

I then increased the gap between the loop wires to 70mm and with 500mA loop current the car responds absolutely perfectly, without needing to lift it in the air.

Do I need to consider re-laying my layout to a wider loop spacing ? Obviously I would prefer not to do this if possible !

Many thanks again for your help.

Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2015-06-01 22:38

Hi Andrew,

You definitely should not change your layout. Hundreds of layouts work with the default 25-40mm spacing. It should work that way and the car should respond almost instantly, period. Either your car is a very sensitive type or your UCCI/E is shouting way too loud.
The car being to sensitive may sound nice but it also has drawbacks that it may respond to all kinds of interference.
Since you have just one car at the moment you can't determine the cause by changing the car. That's why you might check the resistors on the module. If the current is way too high, at least one of them will probably get hot.
Just a check: I assume you power the UCCI/E module with 12V DC?

From who have you bought your UCCI/E and the car? Just to follow the right channels for warranty ...

Kind regards,
Leon

Posted by Andrew Hughes on 2015-06-02 11:26

Hi Leon

Good to hear that I don't need to change my layout!

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I checked the 1 ohm resistors and all four of them are cool.

The UCCI/I is running on a 12 V power supply, and I have also tested it on a second 12 V power supply.

I also removed the front steering axle from the car, in case the steering magnet was interferring with the coil.

The UCCI/E came from MCC Model Car Parts at Eurospoor last year. They also did the car conversion. I'll get in touch with them and see what they say about testing both car and UCCI/E.

Andrew

Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2015-06-03 00:09

Hello Andrew,

I just happened to have a meeting with MCC-ModelCarParts today. Deducting possibilities the most likely cause in my opinion, based on your feedback, is the car behaving strange.
I think you have a number of options: either you wait until you get the additional car you ordered. If that one works fine it's sure that your current car is the problem, otherwise it must be the UCCI/E. If you don't want to wait for that you can send them your car and, if you want, your UCCI/E as well to check. Contact MCC ModelCarParts before you do so, but I'm sure they will find a solution for you.

Kind regards,
Leon

Posted by Andrew Hughes on 2015-06-03 13:20

Hi Leon

I have arranged to see MCC ModelCarParts in July in Houten. By then, I will have my new car, so should be able to give a better diagnosis then.

Many thanks again for your help.

Andrew

Posted by Leon van Perlo on 2015-06-03 13:29

Ok, perfect.
If you have your new car, drop a message with the results. Should it be the UCCI/E after all we will arrange for a replacement.

Kind regards,
Leon