Photocell alignment tips

We had an interesting problem with alignments a few weeks back at Gunstock where we occasionally run dual side-by-side courses. We have a photocell on each side of the finish (about 70' total width), and a dual-direction reflector in the middle.

We were getting stops in both courses when a racer went through the Blue course finish. Thought that was some wiring problem, but it turned out that the Red side photocell was aligned not with its reflector, but aligned into the Blue side photocell. The Red finish worked fine for finishes on the Red side.

Usually, the reflector mount is large enough so that it obscures the view to the other photocell, but not in this case, as the Blue side cell was mounted up a bit high (not enough snow yet).

Might be something to think about when running dual courses and getting 'funny' results. It's easy to cure, of course, but a strange problem when it first surfaces....Ed Brazil, Gunstock Race Dept.

Ed Brazil
edbrazil@compuserve.com

We always put the "eyes" in the center facing outside for that reason alone! We also had the problem with running races at night and having a light in-line with the reflector. Proper placement and alignment is key. Phoenix makes some wonderful single cable with 2 ends for this exact use. We hotrod an extension cable with custom "pigtails" so if we need a longer finish cable, we just add an extension cord (readily available everywhere).

Jim Karnes
timingguys@aol.com

Photocell mounting systems have improved in recent years. PST makes a line of mounting collars known as "Magic Caps" these slip over 2X2 wooden posts to allow more precise installations than chain brackets or screw in angle brackets. The "Magic Caps" are predrilled for ALGE (3/8") and Tag (1/4") swivel heads. Note that you can also mount photocells upside down if you have too to get them lower.

We have also had very good luck recently with the MANFROTTO 3001 tripod. This high quality tripod is very sturdy (unlike video junk from Best Buy) and will support either type of cell in all conditions. These can prove very handy in Spring conditions where the snow is gone and you have to place the cells on dirt to get them low enough.

Finally, it appears that the major issue with the athletes is that they are to small and slip under the beams. OCs should be encouraged to feed the athletes more to fatten them up.

Fred Patton
fpatton@phoenix-sports.com

Good comments here re: beams. One of the problems we encountered at Goodwill Games, and which is becoming more the norm, is installing photocells outside the course "B" netting or fencing. This resolves a potential safety issue by removing the beams from spill zones, but causes problems as discussed here, i.e. the risk of beams being too high in the center of the course or wherever the track is. I strongly recommend EARLY line verification to ensure that if you need course changes to be made by a cat or other machine, that it be done ASAP to avoid the "Holy crap we missed the finish time" syndrome, which of course is followed by the exciting "Dammit who's got a shovel?" syndrome. Take my word for it: early line sighting is way easier!

Andrew Allan
aallan@alphasports.tv

Ted: Excellent post, especially the part about cat drivers. During the Goodwill Games, we got burned by a halfpipe-shaped finish line at snowboard Super-G. The course simply was not prepared properly. Despite digging a pit for the photocell posts, and mounting our ALGE cells upside down (so that they were at snow level), the first forerunner (a 4'10" small girl) went well underneath both the primary and backup cell beams. We had to call for a course hold, and dig with shovels for 15 minutes before we could get the cells down to a reasonable height.

Another suggestion: When using Heuer cells, there is a bright red LED on the front which comes on when an aligned beam is broken. After setting up Heuer cells, walk out into the racing line and raise your hand in the path of the beam until the light comes on. This will show you the height of the beam for racers, which should of course be about shin to knee high.

When using ALGE cells, which do not have the indicator LED, Fred Patton suggests doing the hand test in teams (with one person checking the alignment gauge) or hooking the RX cell up to an ALGE start-beep so that the start-beep chirps when the beam is broken.

James Broder
james@skunkware.tv