[ScorpiusWireless]

Not everyone uses IR LEDs for lap counting. There’s quite a few methods.
An old favourite, the dead strip, is popular because it’s bulletproof.

It would be nice to have a wireless dead strip detector that sends back to Race Coordinator analogue race software, without all the wires.

Simply connect a NCD PR36 2IC 8 channel current detection board to the dead strips of each lane and plug the data wire into the MPDs data port and configure.
You will need this. 
$114USD 

   


Again the MPD …………

[Kevan]

Have you got any destructions for doing this?

[ScorpiusWireless]

Thanks for asking.

1. Connect the photo sensors in the 940Nm range to the green connector block. Install sensor, one per lane in between the rails looking up.

   


2. Infrared LEDs are placed one per lane around 150mm above the track

3. Plug opto unit to MPD.

   

3. Connect the unit to a 12V power supply. This will power both the MPD.

4. Install Race Coordinator onto PC.

5. Plug Scorpius dongle into PC and install the driver. 
There is no track to PC data cabling required.

6. Go to Race Coordinator and configure it to suit Scorpius.

That’s it. Just run your race as you you would any race.

The 2 boards will be installed into a nice enclosure.

The photo sensors will come on 300mm long flyleads which are fitted to the green connector blocks using a small screwdriver. So no soldering is required. 

The infrared LEDs will come on 450 mm flyleads, each wired in parallel and each with its own 1000 ohm resistor. A 8 pair connector block will be supplied.
Again all that will be needed is a screwdriver. No soldering required.

The MPD will come with the correct firmware so there are no registrations or apps required.

A dongle is included in the package.

That’s it.

[Kevan]

Thanks for those instructions, what about the dead strip setup as per the thread title?

[ScorpiusWireless]

lol I just seen this. Not enough coffee.
The dead strip is 90% similar as the gantry method. I’ll rectify this soon. 
Thanks for the heads up 

[Kevan]

I thought I was missing something 

[ScorpiusWireless]

Ok here's the wiring diagram.

As you can see power into MPD and connection is plug'n'play.
To create the deadstrip. Remove rails by unbending tabs, cut and reinstall.
Solder wires to track rails and connect to NCD ADS7828 terminal bank. There are 16 inputs for 8 lanes. Connect wires to terminal bank.
Connect power to MPD.
Connect the MPD to the NCD ADS7828 using the supplied 1.5mm JST 4 way cable. 
Configure the race software to Scorpius.
Thats it. Very simple. Very quick. Very clean.

The system will be compatible only to Race Coordinator which we consider to be the best.
The NCD ADS7828 is powered from the 5V supply in the I2c connection.  No need for separate power.
The MPD will come with Dead strip firmware installed which will broadcast to PC or Laptop using Bluetooth not RF. 
The system will time 1-8 lanes to 1/1000th second accuracy with no latency.

How it works: As the car coasts across the dead strip unpowered the motor acts as a generator and powers the dead strip. The NCD ADS7828 detects this current and generates a lap count command.