SA2LC - Standalone 2 Lap Counter (draft)
What does it do and what is it for?
This simple yet handy lap counter is specially suited for 2 lane tracks but can also be customised to work on dragster strips, rally stages/loops etc..
Built with through-hole components as opposed to SMD, allowing easy customisation and terminal blocks, reducing soldering.
Can be re-programmed with a FT233R FTDI-chip (NOT INCLUDED).
Built-in 5V voltage regulator (minimum voltage 7V, maximum voltage 35V).
Current casing variations available:
Blank (no sockets, just pre-marked holes)
DIN sockets + 5,5 mm PSU socket (three 3 Pin Din and one 5 Pin Din socket)
DIN sockets + two 4 mm banana sockets (same number of Din sockets as above)
Panel mounted case (bottom open, no sockets)
The 5 pin Din socket is wired the same way as a DS gantry; Handy if you already have a gantry installed in your track or prefer to clock laps this way.
A fully underside track method of counting laps is currently in the works and will be included once this unit is available for shipping.
Dead-strips method is also possible but not plug-and-play in its current production configuration (please, ask me to modify before ordering).
Independent relay per lane, programmed to cut track power on finished activated lane and race.
The RGB LED strip is currently programmed to operate six LEDs, they can be programmed to perform various effects. Currently, the LED strip will ‘scroll though and back’ when unit is first powered and when a race is reset to menu; Red flag; Green flag; Mirrored 1, 2, 3 gantry countdown (1/4, 2/5, 3/6). This LED strip can then be folded in half to show flags/countdown in two directions. This six RGB LED strip is a flexible ribbon with a sticky tape on the back.
A single RGB LED is also mounted on the PCB and will show the same track conditions as the RGB LED strip mentioned above plus blinking for clocked laps and personal best laps.
The rotary encoder will only fully function during menu operation (plus or minus number of laps and push-button/enter); Navigate back to menu once race has finished (push-button), this action will reset all data to default (null) except for the number of laps (it will reset to 10 laps when unit is switch ‘Off’ and ‘On’ again).
A Buzzer/speaker will beep when clocking laps and when the rotary encoder is pressed to enter data or to navigate back to menu after race has finished.
As we first power up the unit, it will greet us with ‘Johnny’s Workshop’.
This can be modified to display a different message, i.e.: Track, Club name…
So, let’s have a look…..
From here we can select the number of laps we wish to race.
Note: This number will be saved after we reset the race, but will default to 10 after switching the unit Off and On again.
Anti-clock-wise will decrease the number of laps
And clock-wise will have the opposite effect (increase number of laps)
The countdown will then initiate after pressing the rotary encoder’s push-button:
1
2
3
Note: It’s counting the LEDs paired: 1/4, 2/5 and 3/6. This is the default and can be modified to run more LEDs or in a different sequence. I.e.: Countdown to 5 with 10 LEDs in one strip or a few scattered single LEDs to show red/green lights plus countdown strip.
The race is GO!
Racing using a single lane:
It will only display activated lanes, in this case: Lane 2 / number of laps so far / personal best / current position
As we reach the number of laps set (TEN), it will then red flag the race and cut the power using the relays
We can now press the rotary encoder’s push-button to return to menu
Racing two lanes:
Above: We’ve let lane 1 overtake lane 2 and lane 1 is now ‘P1’; Then Lane 1 was left standing on lap 4.
Below: Lane 2 finished the number of laps (TEN), Lane 1 was then left to finish its current lap (FIVE) and the race ended.
And again, pressing the rotary encoder’s push-button to return to menu
