I've got a set of HL 2-32 photocells that are giving us fits. We are not getting (sometimes) finishes impulses on the receiver side of the finish, center and transmitter locations are fine. This happened in both an XC race (maybe 12 meters wide) and now on Alpine race(25+ meters wide). Batteries are good of course and we've used then at these distances before with no problems.

What's the weather? Bright sun can sometimes "blind" a finish eye if the angle is just right. The Alge eyes have a sun shield, but sometimes that isn't enough. I have been known to make a shield out of a beer/soda can. You can probably do something similar for a TAG eye.

Today was sunny with the sun at a 90 degree angle to the lights, the other (XC race) was cloudy

I had two HL2-35 connected to two Heuer 505s with a 4 conductor cable.We were running S S club.The first run of 230 went fine. Part way into the second two racers came through with no finish impulses on either system.The eyes seemed to be working.We changed the cable(the only common component),nothing.With no logical reason for the problem we reset the timers,replaced batteries in one set of eyes,reset everything.Sudenly for no aparent reason everything started working. We run the rest of the race with no other problems,and used eet's for the two lost times.It was sunny and around 1:00pm.Both systems stoped and restarted at the sametime for no obvious reason.This was a new one on me.

It sounds like it was definitely sun in the lenses of the beams.

I would use these: http://reliableracing.com/detail.cfm?edp=11022027&category=6503

In EVERY weather. Great for sun and snow, and rain.
Jenna

Thanks. We were leaning in that direction just because we couldn't find anything else. I have made some covers, but haven't tried them yet

Also check for "smoke" inside the lenses. Low Cali or Utah or Colorado sun angles will cause the lenses to melt the interior of the cell case. You can even see the track that the sun will make across the transmit and receive diodes. We replace about 6 main circuit boards a year due to having the sun overload the cells.

The solution is sometimes very simple. Move the receivers 2 meters down the hill. The new angled finish line is a slight change but it usually solves the problem. If you don't want to do that then trench the signal lines to the other side and mount your receivers with their back to the sun.

The ALGE manual clearly (in their best Austrian english) states that the cell warranty is void if the diodes are overloaded due to being pointed at the sun.

ALGE and Microgate main circuit boards and diodes can be serviced at our shop. TAG cells must normally be serviced in Switzerland with the related delay.

Smoky TAG cells can be cleaned using a technique outlined by our esteemed TG Member J Jett elsewhere on these forums.