Intermediate times with communication

You are close, and I believe I understand what you are trying to do.

You need to plug in the SV4 into line 1, not line 3. The photocell gets plugged into line 3 and C2 (you have that correct). Doing this with the TDC8000 is possible but not easy, it is easier to do it with software.

I am not sure about your question about how far. It can be attached through a good pair of wires miles away from the timer.
Jenna

With a TDC you can communicate on ALL timing channels. You are using an ALGE start gate with built in speech amplifier so you are already talking on the start channel C0. If you use the intermediate timing channel in the TDC C2 you can also use that pair for the SV4 amplifier and headset at the intermediate location so your proposed setup is good. You can even put a headset and amp at the finish line and talk on the C1 pair.

Jenna is correct that using the TDC to run the intermediate can be more difficult than using software. Because the finish keyboard and LCD display control both the intermediate and the finish you will need to be aware on who is hitting the intermediate and the finish and switch the bib number on the finish keyboard to match. It is much easier to do this with software and you can still use the timer and timing channels as you propose to communicate to any timing location without an extra communication pair.

Ok, I will try to use the software to control the GAZ instead of doing it directly from the TDC.

The questions I had left is if any of you know how far can the intermediate time signal travel using a couple of cooper wires with a diameter of 2,5 mm each.
This cable is underground so I cannot change it easily.

Thanks again.

The distance is not as important as the resistance, but if the cable is good, here is the info for the calculations based on 2,0mm cable:

2.0 metric cable = 555ohm/KM
See:http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
(there is even a calculator at the bottom)

The TDC 8000 lists input resistance at 10,KOhms against 5V. I am assuming this means 10,000 ohms? (see page 101 of the English manual).

So, by my math (someone tell me if I get this wrong) 10,000 divided by 555 = 18km. Since your cable is a little bigger, you can probably send the signal further.

Good luck,
Jenna

And finally, one more question I have is about the SV4.

There are 2 models, the SV4-S and the SV4-SM.

I understand that the SV4-SM has and additional 6 pin DIN connector for the SM8.
Can a photocell be connected there?
Will it work with the SV4 9V inside battery or will it work with the photocell 1,5V inside battery?

In model SV4-S I understand that 1 green and 1 black banana plugs are to be connected to the line to the timer.
What is the other pair of banana plugs for?
Are they useful?

Thanks again for your answers.

You can use either but the SV4 is fine. I do not think the din connector on the SM model can be used for a photocell but I could be wrong. You will need to use batteries in both the photocell C 1.5v and speech amp 9V. You can connect both the photocell and the speech amp to your timing line being sure to keep the polarity correct. The spare set of banana plugs on the amp is for use with the amp in-line between the timer and photocell where one set of plugs would go to the timer and the other set would run to the photocell or start gate or whatever. You don't need this model per-se as you can just double up the banana plugs on one set of SV4 jacks if you have the older model. Your timing line does not have to run through the amp if you dont want, it can be connected with a by splitting the timing line anywhere and running spurs to any/all components. Polarity is important and be sure to bench test your setup before deployment in the field.