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3.1 Charging the batteries
The vehicles are equipped with lithium polymer batteries (similar to modern mobile phones), enabling a fast charging rate. Additionally,
batteries do not require full charge-discharge cycles. You can just charge for a few minutes and immediately try out the vehicle.
With a full battery and normal operation with waiting times and various speeds a runtime of approx. 4 – 6 hours, and approx.
2 hours at max. speed/full load is possible.
Connect the charger to a USB power supply and insert its plug into the socket under the vehicle, as indicated in
fig. 5. It is possible to charge your vehicle from different power sources, as indicated in fig. 6. The battery starts charging,
regardless whether the vehicle is on or off. If it is turned on, the motor will stop. Additionally, the approximate charging status
will be indicated by flashing with the interior lighting as follows:
- single short flash: the battery is empty or nearly empty,
- double flashes: below average charge in the battery,
- triple flashes: above average charge in the battery,
- continuously on: the battery is full or almost fully charged.
In case the vehicle is off, the charging adapter will indicate whether the battery is being charged or whether it has finished
charging. A red light means charging, blue means the battery is full.
Hint:
For an improved and faster charging, we recommend charging the vehicle while it is turned off.
Hint:
Preferably charge the vehicle switched off and lying on the roof. If the power supply to the charger is interrupted, e. g.
when charging via a notebook, the vehicle would start the engine.
Hint:
Do not store the vehicle for extended time periods either with a completely empty or a completely charged battery. This
may extend the lifespan of the batteries.
4. Traffic control
The vehicle is equipped with a magnetic sensor that is hidden on the right side of the vehicle. It can detect stop coils,
permanent magnets (item 8431) or other components which produce a magnetic field. Thus the vehicle is compatible with
other existing systems.
4.1 Magnetic commands
The vehicle can chain and autonomously carry out commands. With such commands, triggered by simple magnets under-
neath the layout, it is already possible to achieve a varied operation – completely without additional control electronics. Such
commands can, however, also be triggered by IR signals - see chapter 4.3.
Hint:
For more detailed information and examples, please refer to the manual of the CarManager.
If the sensor detects the north pole (N) of a magnetic field, the vehicle stops instantly, and remains stopped as long as the
magnetic field persists. Alternatively, with the help of the programming device, item 8401 and the CarManager software the
setting can be changed so that the vehicle is stopped only for a determined time period.
Hint:
Determining the magnetic pole can be done by moving the magnet or coil in question towards the hall sensor while
the vehicle is turned on and ideally lying on the roof. If the drive axle stops immediately, it is a north pole. If decelerates and
continues to turn slowly, it is a south pole.
If the sensor detects a south pole (S) of a magnetic field, the vehicle is decelerated within ca. 15 cm (set by the CarManager)
to its preset crawling speed, in order to be able to stop smoothly and realistically on a following stop point (N). Here you need
to make sure that both magnets should have a distance of min. 5 cm, in order not to be interpreted as a (S N)-command. The
typical setup is to place a stop point (N) in front of an intersection or in a parking area, and to place a brake point (S) against
the direction of travel with the south pole facing upwards (fig. 7). After hitting the inverted brake point (S) the vehicle will be
brought to a crawling speed within the preset distance of 15 cm regardless of the original speed. The standard setup is 10
km/h. It is recommended to switch the two coils together in a parallel circuit.
Hint:
If the vehicle travels more than the preset distance limit after encountering a brake point (S) without detecting a stop
point (N), it will resume normal operation. Thus, you may use a permanent magnet (S), item 8431 in front of very tight bends,
where even in real life, a truck would need to slow down to crawling speed.
Hint:
For longer slow-moving sections, several south pole magnets may also be placed in a row. However, they must be
positioned at least 5 cm apart so that they are not interpreted as a “double south pole”, i.e. as an (S S).
4.2 Activating special functions via permanent magnets, item 8431
For compatibility with other car systems, by default the following functions have been allocated to these magnet sequences (fig. 8):
- N:
Immediate stop
- S:
Smooth deceleration
- S N:
Cancels existing magnetic commands, indicators are switched off, previous speed is resumed and the lane
is restored to the default lane
- S S:
Informs vehicles about a lane change to the stopping lane, for distance control (see chapter 4.3)
- S N N: Flashes right for 30 cm during which time the speed is limited to 30 km/h.
