INSPECTION AND DETAILED INSTALLATION DRAWINGS OF TIMESTOPPER TS300 START AND FINISH SENSORS (Refer to Figures 1 through 5)

1. The operation of the unit should be checked as soon as you receive it and before mounting the Start Sensor and Finish Sensor onto the track.   For this purpose, the supplied metal starting Flag, which serves as an optical blocking device for the Start Sensor, can be manually positioned within the slot of the Start Sensor (see Figure 2B below), and manually removed (see Figure 4B) to simulate starting of a race.  In a similar manner, to simulate events at the finish line, simply pass a hand successively between each Finish Sensor and a lamp providing incandescent illumination.   The operation of the timing unit can then be tested manually by simulating a race and verifying the timing and display steps described separately in the INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL.



2. Mount the metal Start Flag (see Figures 1 through 4) to the track Start Bar using one No. 6 x1/2" long, oval-head, self-tapping screw as supplied.   Mount this metal Start Flag in such a way that its Flag part moves cleanly and fully into the slot of the Start Sensor when the Start Bar is in the "Ready" or cocked position.   This positioning is best done in conjunction with the mounting step of the Start Sensor itself, given in the next step.



3. Mount the Start Sensor (see Figures 2A&B and 4A&B) to the underside of the track such that the metal Start Flag can be repeatably positioned within the slot of the Start Sensor when the Start Bar is in the Ready or cocked position.   This slot is in the black plastic part of the Start Sensor assembly.   Use two of the No. 4 x3/4" long oval head self-tapping screws as supplied for this purpose.   In preparation for mounting the Start Sensor, make a shallow groove about 1/2" to 1" long in the bottom of the track (and clear of the holes used for the mounting screws) to allow cable clearance under the Start Sensor assembly.   Alternatively to providing a cable-clearance groove, space the Start Sensor off from the bottom surface of the track by using washers or other suitable spacers.   Before a race starts, the metal Start Flag blocks the invisible infrared light beam that otherwise crosses the width of the slot of the photosensor which is inside the Start Sensor.   Rotating the Start Bar swings the metal Starting Flag out of the slot of the photo-sensor and thereby starts the timing of a race.   The alignment of the metal Start Flag in relation to the slot of the Start Sensor should be performed carefully so that the metal Start Flag will not crash against the body of the Start Sensor when the Start Bar is rotated into the Ready position.   In other words, the metal Start Flag should be made to swing smoothly into and out of the slot in the Start Sensor without interference.



4. Attach a rubber band (see Figure 2) between the Start Bar and the underside of the track to enable the Start Bar to be automatically rotated by the force of the rubber band when opening the gate to release the cars in starting a race.   This will help assure that the track operator will not affect the race times by lowering the Start Bar at a different rate with each race.   It is recommended that each end of the rubber band be anchored to a nail or eyelet as illustrated (see Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4a).   [Also, it is suggested for your convenience, and for race-time repeatability, that you install a simple Trigger/Release mechanism on the track Start Bar to hold the start gate closed until an operator triggers it, or otherwise releases it, to start a race.   The recommended mechanism for this purpose is the Start Handle illustrated in Figures 1A&B, 2A, 3A&B, and 4A.   An alternative Trigger/Release mechanism can be made from a strip of 3/32 thick aluminum, and then attached to the underside of the track with a screw.   Another alternative is a piece of heavy-gauge coat-hanger wire bent-to-suit for this same purpose.]



5. Be careful to mount the Finish Sensors in each lane along a common finish line.   First draw (or score, or paint, or tape) a straight reference line perpendicular to the lanes at the finish line.   Then drill the sensor mounting holes along this line as described in the next paragraph.   This line will be the official finish line.



6. At the finish line and on the centerline of each lane of your track, drill a hole 5/16" in diameter vertically through the track.   Figure 5 shows how the Finish Sensors are to be installed and how they operate, whereby each car crossing the finish line interrupts the overhead illumination from reaching the Finish Sensor located on the finish line in the middle of that car's lane.   Figure 5 also illustrates the installation of a Finish Sensor within a 5/16" (see next two paragraphs).



7. Before placing the Finish Sensors into holes in the track, choose them to correctly correspond to which lane numbers are associated with each lane.   It is advisable to mark the track lanes with their desired lane numbers.



8. The provided rubber tubes allow the Finish Sensors (the phototransistors) to be easily inserted snugly within the drilled holes.   Each tube is slit down one side (lengthwise) in order to allow a Finish Sensor (phototransistor) to be gently inserted within the tube before installation of the resulting sensor-in-tube sub-assembly into the track.   When installing Finish Sensors, be sure to position the lens of each Finish Sensor about 1/4" below the top surface of the guide rails of the track.   From the underside of the track, and using the rubber tubing provided as a protective sleeve around the body of the sensor, insert each sensor body snugly into its respectively chosen hole (per lane number associations as described in the previous paragraph).   The body of each Finish Sensor should be positioned within its respective hole in the track such that the small transparent window is facing skyward.   By recessing each Finish Sensor about 1/4" below the top surface of the track, the portion of hole and tube left above the lens of the sensor should act somewhat as a tunnel to the sensor to partially shield it from light sources other than directly overhead.   The extra length to each tube allows you to easily grasp it for removal when taking down a track for storage.



9. Mount an incandescent lamp directly above the finish line of the track to illuminate all three of the Finish Sensors.   Mount this bulb about 5 feet above the track surface.   Multiple lamps may be positioned across the finish line, and these lamps may be placed closer than 5 feet.   Proper operation of the Finish Sensors requires good illumination on each sensor (when there are no cars over the sensor holes).

IMPORTANT: To protect each sensor from potential damage caused by excessive pull on its cable, clamp each cable securely to the track within 4" to 6" of the respective sensor, leaving some slack between the fastening clamp and the sensor.   Also remember at the end of a derby, before taking your track down for transportation and/or storage, to remove the sensors and cables for their protection.

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