The Ski Roundtop timing team has invented a PVC photocell mounting system. It uses a plywood base with PVC flange that is buried. The upright pops off if a racer hits it.

Photocell_installation.JPG (13 Kb, 105 downloads)

Can anyone provide more detailed drawings or some photos of the mount out of the snow.

There is interest at our hill (we currently do the 2x4 stake in the ground with the sawed break away point), but some have asked how difficult they are to mount in the snow for stability. Do they need a hole predrilled? Is it just a flat piece of plywood buried slightly under the snow? How would they work then on a sloped hill still?

Thanks for any clarification you can provide.

Brian

They are on flat pieces of plywood just under the snow. They work fine on all degrees of pitch. No problems with drift at all. They are so much better than wood 2X2's in many ways. They have been modified since this picture and are now two posts per FIS specifications.

My timing partner Bob Grover is the designer and I'm sure he will log on later. I just want to sing his praises before he does. The man is scary in the solutions he has come with to problems that have been plaguing timers for a long time.
Sam

SRT and PST will be looking at creating a sliding cell mount later this year. Probably out of stainless steel. Keep checking back!

Having set these up several times this year now (my first year doing timing) I can see the problems many face as our club currently uses partially sawed off 2 x 4's (break-away). With the eyes and reflector mounted via solid metal brackets it limits the adjustment and makes the whole connection a bit hoaky...

I really look foward to seeing some better photos and/or some plans for a better system. Thanks for the feedback.