Lap Timer, What would you pay?

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Barfly101	Lap Timer, What would you pay?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 648 (04/19/08 12:31 AM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I work in the Oil & Gas industry primarily doing automation. This gives me access to and knowledge of some pretty cool electronics. I have built myself a nice lap timer out of scavenged parts. Lap times, lap count down, which lane is in what place, best lap, averaged time over race, external outputs for a light tree with sound etc, really is just a mater of ones imagination. Anyway to the point of this poll.... Having done this for myself out of spare parts makes me wonder what other guys would be willing to pay for something like this. Now before you jump to conclusions I'm not asking because I want to start a business or make some quick cash. I just like doing the programming and seeing other people make good use of it and wonder if the hardware I am used to working with would be too expensive for this type of application. The poll assumes this would be the lap timer of your dreams built just the way and with all the options you could ask for. What is the most you would pay for a custom Lap Timer/Counter (Total Votes: 12) - Closed 0-50 (8 / 66.7%) 50-100 (4 / 33.3%) 100-150 (0 / 0%) 150-200 (0 / 0%) 200-250 (0 / 0%) 250-300 (0 / 0%) 300-350 (0 / 0%) Barfly Racing
farmnurd		#1	[-]
Posts: 212 (04/19/08 09:10 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Barfly. I want to know a little more about this lap timer. I am looking at SCX mechanical lap counters for my demolition track but your lap timer has much more to offer. Does it have its own display or does it plug into my laptop? How many lanes can it manage and does it come wth its own sensors? thanks Dave
Barfly101		#2	[-]
Posts: 649 (04/19/08 11:38 PM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hey Farmnurd, thanks for asking. Here's is a link to about the least expensive display I have been working with. C-more Micro It's a non touch screen version. Another very interesting display I have used is a touch screen, here's the link EZ Touch Junior The PLC I have used is a Direct Logic with 8 dc inputs and 6 relay outputs, here's the link DL05-DR As you can see the cost of this type of controller would add up very fast. But I think it would have some big advantages over a pc based lap timer. And you could in most cases subtract the $100 or so that you would pay for a old laptop off ebay from the price. Here are some of the advantages I can think of right away. 1. Very small footprint in comparison to a computer and monitor. could be built rite into your light bridge 2. Relay outputs allow for DC and AC loads. Switch a light tree, cut the power to a lane(s), add or subtract a power source etc..... 3. Can be powered by DC (DL05-DRD). Great for outdoor, or portable tracks. 4. Customizable. I am a fairly decent programmer. If the hardware supports it, I can make it work the way you like. Anyway, I don't want to ramble and to be honest I am really just looking for a way to contribute to the HRW community doing something I really like and am good at But the hardware is expensive I know. Joe. Barfly Racing
Cjent		#3	[-]
Posts: 5346 (04/20/08 12:02 PM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Cool Stuff. Real food for thought. Cjent "Speed Thrills"
pmarchand	Check these out	#4	[-]
Posts: 7593 (04/20/08 01:29 PM) 1/43rd Scale Master Craftsman Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	http://www.punkjob.com/DS300/index.html Philippe 1/32 Site, 1/43 Site SlotTronics
martin0409		#5	[-]
Posts: 1213 (04/20/08 01:32 PM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think if you start building a few and sell it for a very resonable price, people will buy it. Would it be nice to have a lap timer that can do everything that you can imagine it to do? Looking forward to see what timer you can come up with in the future.
Barfly101		#6	[-]
Posts: 652 (04/20/08 09:33 PM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well in comparison to Philippe's link examples, I guess $300 would not be to far out of the question considering you would have enough inputs for 8 lanes right out of the box. And a touch screen rather than an LED display. Maybe I could put together a demo unit wired to a Artin straight (very common around here) and mail it out to someone and you guys could pass it around for a couple of months to see what you think. But as the poll results are showing, the majority of people are more interested in a very low cost solution. Let's see. Barfly Racing
Liberty FLHTC		#7	[-]
Posts: 2784 (04/21/08 02:01 AM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	What if the software (ladder logic) was what is sold with an instruction sheet that included a laundry list of necessary components? That would keep the initial cost outlay lower and the components could be purchased when found - for us scroungers.
Barfly101		#8	[-]
Posts: 663 (04/24/08 10:30 PM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks everyone for your votes and input. I'm thinking of a way to get this out to the community and will be back with some idea's soon. Thanks again. Joe. Barfly Racing
Cjent		#9	[-]
Posts: 5365 (04/25/08 08:26 AM) Home Racing Guru! Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Awesome! Thank you , Joe. Cjent "Speed Thrills"