Slot Car Corner - Making a Controller Adapter

Slot Car Corner

Making a Controller Adapter For the Slot.It Electronic Controller

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Introduction

The much anticipated Slot.It electronic controller has recently been released. The controller lead wires are terminated with banana plugs which are not widely used in North America. Fortunately it is VERY EASY to convert the banana plugs to alligator clips which can then be used with commercial style 3 post hookups. This article provides step-by-step illustrated instructions to make a set of adapters.

Note: A pre-fabricated kit with the high-quality components shown in this article is available for purchase in the Slot Car Corner Online Store. Two (2) versions of the kit are available - one includes steel alligator clips, the other includes copper alligator clips. The seam on the alligator clips is pre-soldered (refer to article below) - no soldering is required on your part if you purchase one of these kits.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here are the components you will need - 3 alligator clips and 3 protective rubber boots for the clips. The alligator clips shown are copper; however, lower cost steel clips can be used as well.

Some alligator clips have a small screw for attaching wire or a wire terminal. If this screw if present, remove it before proceeding.

Note: If you have purchased one of my kits, you can skip the next 3 steps. The seam on the alligator clips has been pre-soldered for you.

Most alligator clips have an "open" seam where wire can be run inside. When using the adapter, you will be inserting the controller's banana plug into the portion of the clip with the seam. Over time, the banana plug could expand this seam which would mean a looser fit (and potentially problems with electrical connectivity). Soldering this seam is an easy way to prevent this potential problem. Start by apply flux (rosin core) generously along the entire length of the seam. Apply flux to the "inside" of the seam as well.

Now apply a SMALL amount of solder along the seam as shown. Again, you don't need much solder - once it starts to "flow", do not feed more solder into the joint. Flux and solder the remaining two (2) alligator clips.

The soldered seam should look something like this. Let the solder joint cool completely before proceeding.

The "neck" (small end) of the protective rubber boot is too long for the portion of the alligator clip where the banana plug will be inserted. You will need to remove about 1/4" of material from the neck of the protective boot. Use a ruler and pen to mark each boot as shown (

Tip: A black marker won't work very well for the black boot - use a light colored marker instead. :-)

Use a sharp pair of scissors or to cut the excess material from the protective rubber boots.

Carefully insert the alligator clips into the protective boots as shown.

The "round" end of the alligator clip should be flush with the trimmed end of each protective rubber boot as shown. Depending on how much of the alligator clips extend from the other end, you may want/need to trim the neck of the protective boot further.

Note: You could glue the neck of the protective rubber boot to the alligator clips; however, this will prevent you from adjusting the boots when connecting the alligator clips (or while in use). Initially I would recommend not using any glue (you can always do this later...).

Here are the finished adapters ready for installation on the Slot.It electronic controller.

To install the adapters, simply insert the banana plug on each controller lead wire into the appropriate colored adapter.

That's all there is to it!! You can now connect the controller to any commercial style 3 post driver's station.

Summary

This is a very easy project (5 - 10 minutes) and your Slot.It controller can be used with 3 post commercial style driver's stations.