CARRERA DIGITAL HARDWARE

Carrera DIGITAL hardware, clearly explained

The Carrera DIGITAL system at a glance: Control Unit, Adapter Unit, Pit Lane, Check Lane, Driver Display, Position Tower, Startlight, AppConnect – and how Track Engine uses it.

Carrera DIGITAL 124/132 – complete system · ~8 min read · Updated: 13 October 2026

Carrera DIGITAL is modular. A track with a Control Unit is enough to race; add components for refuelling, sector times, displays or app connectivity as needed.

This overview explains what each component does, how they work together and what Track Engine needs. The individual articles provide the details.

Compatibility

Carrera DIGITAL 132: Yes – all pages of this category describe Carrera DIGITAL 124/132.
Carrera DIGITAL 124: Yes – all pages of this category describe Carrera DIGITAL 124/132.
Carrera Evolution: No. Carrera Evolution is a separate analog system. Carrera explicitly prohibits using DIGITAL 124/132 components on an Evolution track. Track Engine currently supports only track planning for Evolution.

All hardware topics

Start with the essentials

Four topics that answer the most common questions, from the control centre to the app connection.

Displays, starts and lap times

The hardware that shows the race: displays, start lights, lap counting and the necessary connections.

The complete system at a glance

This sequence shows how the components work together; it is not a wiring diagram or an installation order.

Control Unit
Control centre: power, hand controller, vehicle coding, fuelling function, race start.
Adapter Unit
Connector for Driver Display, Position Tower and Startlight.
Pit Lane / PSAU
Pit Lane for refuelling, with lap counting.
Check Lanes
Sector times; required for DRS in Track Engine.
Driver Display
Tank level, refuelling operations and position per driver.
Position Tower
Positions of up to 6 vehicles and laps of the leader.
Starting light
Traffic light phase at the start of the race.
AppConnect
Bluetooth connection to apps.
Track Engine
Planning, race control, live measurement, strategy and analysis in the browser.

The system also includes the Lap Counter for lap timing, plus hand controllers or WIRELESS accessories.

Which Carrera DIGITAL hardware do you really need?

Beginners: Track with Control Unit, power supply, hand controllers and coded vehicles. That's all you need to drive.
Advanced: Add a Pit Lane with Pit Stop Adapter Unit for refuelling, Driver Display for fuel level, Position Tower or Lap Counter for positions and times, and Startlight for the start sequence.
Race Control Users: For Race Control: Control Unit, AppConnect and a browser with Bluetooth access. Add Check Lanes for sector times and a PSAU for refuelling and pit rules.
Track Engine users: Like Race Control users. Planning, room planning and administration work without hardware.

No need

You can expand a Carrera DIGITAL track step by step. Track Engine does not require display accessories such as Driver Display, Position Tower or Lap Counter for its own functions.

Example configurations

Minimum: Control Unit + DIGITAL track, hand controller, coded vehicles.
Lap counts and times beside the track: Control Unit + Lap Counter (connection 2) and/or Position Tower (via the Adapter Unit).
Refuelling: Control Unit + Pit Lane with Pit Stop Adapter Unit. Set the CU's tank function to ON or REAL; add a Driver Display to see the fuel level.
Sector times: Control Unit (firmware from 3.37) + two Check Lanes: three sectors.
DRS in Track Engine: Control Unit + two Check Lanes.
Track Engine with Hardware: Control Unit + AppConnect + Browser with Bluetooth access.
Complete Race Control setup: Control Unit + AppConnect + Pit Lane with PSAU + second Pit Lane for the Pace Car + two Check Lanes.

Track Engine's weather rules have different capabilities: unavailable without a CU, limited with a CU alone, and fully available with both CU and PSAU.

Connecting the hardware: essential rules

Use only the original power supply specified for Carrera DIGITAL 124/132, and operate the track with a single power supply.
Connect the power supply and hand controllers to the Control Unit (controller sockets 3 and 4, or 1 with an extension box); port 2 accepts PC-Unit, Lap Counter or AppConnect.
Driver Display, Position Tower and Startlight are integrated via the Adapter Unit.
In Pit Lane, the infrared receiver is located on the input switch and the lettering ‘FUEL’ of the PSAU must be readable in the direction of travel.
Install Check Lanes before programming them at CU.
Keep DIGITAL and Evolution separate: do not install DIGITAL components on a Carrera Evolution track.

Using it with Track Engine

This section explains what the hardware enables in Track Engine and which tasks remain on Carrera hardware.

Using the hardware with Track Engine

Track Engine connects to the Control Unit via Bluetooth. It derives a digital twin from your layout to show which functions your hardware supports. Run the track test on your real track to confirm the installed hardware.

Fuel consumption: Control Unit
Fueling and Pit Rules: Control Unit + PSAU
DRS: Control Unit + 2 Check Lanes
Pace Car: Control Unit + second Pit Lane

You still code vehicles at the Control Unit; Track Engine does not program a real car.
Track Engine uses the hardware for live measurement, positions, sector times and hardware-dependent functions in Race Control.
Which functions are available depends on the installed hardware. Display devices such as Driver Display, Position Tower and Lap Counter are not among the mentioned requirements.

Common problems

I don’t know what part my function needs.
Cause:
The requirements differ for each function.
Solution:
Check the example configurations above and open the article for the relevant component. Track Engine's track test shows which hardware it detects on your track.
Nothing on the track works.
Cause:
Electrical connection, hand controller or track section connections.
Solution:
Go through the error list of the Control Unit page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need the Control Unit for Carrera DIGITAL?

Yes. It controls vehicles, accessories and the race start.

Do I need all the hardware for Track Engine?

No. For hardware-connected operation, you need a compatible Control Unit, AppConnect and a browser with Bluetooth access. Sector times and DRS also require Check Lanes; refuelling and pit rules require a PSAU.

What is the difference between DIGITAL 132 and 124?

The Carrera instructions for the components described here apply together to DIGITAL 124/132. The power supply differs per system (according to Control Unit instructions 18 V for DIGITAL 124 and 14.8 V for DIGITAL 132).

Does Evolution work with this hardware?

No. Evolution is a separate analog system.

Continue with Track Engine

Track Engine connects Carrera DIGITAL 132/124 to live timing, Race Control, strategy and analysis.

Explore Track Engine

Sources

Carrera hardware details are based on Carrera's German instruction manuals:

Track Engine is an independent third-party product and is not affiliated with, authorized, sponsored or endorsed by Carrera.

Carrera and the product names mentioned are trademarks or product names of their respective owners. They are used here only to describe the products.

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