Hey Guys... The smell of pinewood is in the air - so it must be derby time! So may I ask the collective if anyone has home-built a timer circuit for the pinewood derby (4 lanes) - our track is just a winner LED signal. I'd like to provide a digital readout for each lane of elapsed time and win lane LED (a micro-switch at the start gate will drop ground to start the sequence) I know I've seen a few posts on the matter and hope there might be some decent homebrew designs for a trap (light sensor) and a means of interfacing a timer for each lane.... Free standing - as in no PC interfacing just a "start" signal and a "Stop" from like an NPN phototransistor or such that somehow works into a small 4 or 6 character display? Any Ideas? Thanks in Advance! HowY
it might be a lot more than your willing to spend, but you could look at getting a PLC. i would suggest a siemens logo or a similar model(there cheaper but the logo has free software and is very beginner friendly).wit some simple sensors, wiring, and a little graphic programing you could easily accomplish what you are looking for.
Here are a few links I have saved. I'd like to build a track too, but this year will be my first race as an adult. I'm going to wait until I see what the Pack has before I go over the edge. http://userpages.burgoyne.com/jbrown/pinewood/#Software http://www.amctrl.com/index.html http://grandprix-race-central.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=5
