These directions assume that you have already installed the starting gate switch, infrared LED's, metal tubes, and phototransistors permanently on the race track. If this is not the case, consult the section on construction for information about installing these components on the track.
Connect the wires for the starting gate switch, infrared LED's, and phototransistors to the main circuit. Connect the power input to the battery or wall power adapter and turn on the power switch (S1). The numeric displays should read zero if the power is good.
Close the starting gate and keep it closed. Briefly press the secondary reset switch (S3) if your timer has one. At this time, the infrared LED's should be emitting flashes of invisible light. For each lane, carefully align the metal tube with the infrared LED. Good alignment will cause both the green and yellow LED for that lane to light. Poor alignment will cause only the yellow LED to light.
Release the starting gate. The times on the numeric displays should start advancing. Wave your hand under the metal tube for Lane 1 and verify that the display for that lane stops advancing. Close the starting gate and press the secondary reset switch. Verify that the displays all read zero again and that all of the yellow and green LED's are lit. Repeat for each of the other lanes.
Release the starting gate again. The times on the displays should advance. Wave your hand under the metal tubes for all of the lanes except Lane 1. Verify that the time for Lane 1 continues to advance, while all of the others have stopped. Verify that the yellow and green LED's for Lane 1 are still lit. Close the starting gate and briefly press the secondary reset switch. Repeat for each of the other lanes.
Release the starting gate and close it again, but do not press the secondary reset switch. Verify that the times for all of the lanes continue to advance. If your timer does not have a secondary reset switch, then this test will cause all of the times to reset to zero.
On power up, if the displays do not all read zero, try turning the power off and then on again a few seconds later. Also try closing the starting gate switch and briefly pressing the secondary reset switch (S3). If the timer is powered by battery, replace the battery with a new one.
If you can not get the green LED to light consistently, you can still run races as long as the yellow LED appears to be on steadily. Note however that the circuit will be more vulnerable to false early finishes when operating under this condition. If you can not get any LED to light, then there may be a problem with the wiring. Use a volt meter to determine if the infrared LED's are receiving any power.
If the wrong lane's time stops advancing, check that the phototransistor is connected to the correct port on the main unit. You may need to rewire the plug or remount the phototransistors with the correct lane assignments.
If a lane's time incorrectly stops advancing when other lanes have stopped, check the yellow and green LED's for that lane. If they are dark, then check that the infrared LED is connected to the correct port on the main unit. You may need to rewire the plug or remount the infrared LED's with the correct lane assignments.
Copyright © 2001 Kristin Hammond
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