Digital Start Clocks

[G Stillwill]

They are much more accurate then the hand clock the down side unless they are shaded and the numbers large enough to see from more then a 1000 feet they are useless. Most use yellow bulbs or close to that color which the sun shining on them blend them in with the beach or pit area. I have seen advertising signs with the blue/white leds and they show up bright even with the sun on them. Even Ray Charles could see those

[John Howe]

There is a guy in N. Carolina (region 4) that has built several digital clocks for inboard racing. His name is John Ronchetti. I`m sure he would talk to anyone seriously interested. I know John always runs the clock at the Hampton Virginia inboard races. I don`t have his contact info handy right now, but I`ll look for it.

[Cameraboy]

I already sent Bill a PM before I stumbled on this thread. Hope I didn't leave anything out.

One issue with LEDs is bright sunlight. With the wrong lens and/or wrong LEDs, what works great on a cloudy/filtered sunlight day sucks on a sunny day. We just had a 4' X 8' LED (APBA rulebook specifies the size for digital)digital clock built this year. This was the first back up clock at Stock Nationals this year - as noted above, it sucked in the bright conditions and was replaced by the second backup - the infamous CORA sweep-hand clock that Matt loves so well

There are two main components to digital clocks - the sequencer (this is what took a dump on the primary clock at Stock Nationals) and the lights themselves. A sequencer that works with incandescent bulbs may not work with LED and vice-versa. And incandescent bulbs require 110v.

We are continuing to work on the technology. We need to go with at least a different lens and/or LEDs. We have already fixed an overheating problem with a smaller power supply, and the shallow angle visibility problem with LED placement. If we know the weekend will be overcast, this clock works great and will be used We have used it at one race). But that's not good enough for us.

We spent about $3K out of pocket for the sequencer and LED panels (the largest the company had attempted at 36" high). The vendor told us he underbid by half, but he may have just been cranky. The cases were donated (the clock is in three separate sections). We bought a 12v forklift storage battery and a big inverter - the clock runs direct off of the battery, and the camera, VCR, and PA run off of the inverter. No loud generator on or near the barge.

The company we worked with is Alzatex here in Oregon http://www.alzatex.com (hey Bill - I think I gave you a wrong link )
We had hoped to be able to show it off and drum up enough business for them to knock the price down, but we have to get the prototype working first.

That's been our experience.

[Kristi Ellison]

Mike

Great info...keep us posted on your progress.

[roperz111]

Clock

Kristi,

A few years ago our former club (North-South Racing) used a sweep hand clock. In order to make it as viewable as possible, we painted it so the clock face was bright yellow and the surrounding square frame and background was medium gray (R.C. Hawie's suggestion). This color scheme made the clock much easier to spot. Also, we mounted an amber rotating light on the top of it to activate during the one-minute white flag period. This made the clock instantly recognizable while milling. We mounted two large bright floodlamps on the side of the face for the green flag period of milling. I also designed a control box that allowed the referee to completely control the clock operation, allowing the ref to override and shorten the green flag period. Also, this control box had outlets for connecting up camera equipment for the start. Lastly, we mounted an end switch at the top so that the clock arm would trip it exactly at zero to activate a still camera or light for a video recorder. I still have all the wiring schematics on file, if it is ever needed again.

I'm not trying to steer anyone away from digital clocks, I'm only giving out all information on the one we used. It worked well I think, however, I do like the digital clocks very much as well. Hope any of this helps.

Chris Johnson
111-Z

[Howie Nichols]

Doug Brand maintains the digital clock we have in Region 5, he may be able to give you some insight as to some of the hardships and positives in the maintenance aspect.

We will have the digital clock in Jesup.

I believe there are 3 digital clocks floating around in Region 5 at this time. The current one we are using, FORA has one, and Bill Tetro has the 3rd.

The setup really isn't that bad, takes maybe 15-25 minutes and once you have done it once or twice it goes up pretty quick (but make a wiring diagram so it goes togetehr the same way every time). The clock we use has all 3 panels bolted together and 2 people can carry it so it is pretty light.

[Kristi Ellison]

Howie and Chris

Thanks for the info. I will be sure to check out the set up in Jesup as well as seeing how it works from the course side of it. I can see from all the posts there is definitely an interest out there.

[YankeeRacing]

While looking into clocks, ask about transponders to go along with it. The ones I have researched are pretty cheap and keep the judges stand happy and "safe'.
Connie

[Andrew 4CE]

While looking into clocks, ask about transponders to go along with it. The ones I have researched are pretty cheap and keep the judges stand happy and "safe'.
Connie

Transponders for what? Timing the race? I've been trying to figure that our for two years with no luck...? If so, how did you get it to work!?

[alky6]

Old school

Personally, I do not like the digital clocks. I guess too many years of looking at a sweeping hand. Goes along with the fact that I don't buy digital wrist watches. Call me old school, but I prefer the sweeping hand. My feeble mind can't process the numbers well I guess

If folks want to slow down my great starts, then a digital clock it is!

-Paul

[Andrew 4CE]

Does anyone using digital clocks have the clock start counting up after the start to time the race for spectators? We had one do that this summer and it confused some of the drivers... they'd see 0:02 on the clock and not sure if there was 2 seconds left or 2 seconds late. Do they crack the throttle or hammer it

Any clubs find a way to deal with this? I would like to have it count up... maybe have it count but delay the display of it for 10 seconds. or have a row of green LED lights light up for 10 seconds... several easy solutions I think, but has anyone delt with this already?

[YankeeRacing]

Transponders for what? Timing the race? I've been trying to figure that our for two years with no luck...? If so, how did you get it to work!?

Transponders for timing a race would be good, but better if they could be set up for gun jumpers. The offshore category has been using them for years. Each driver has a transponder in their boat. It would take some figuring but other racing venues use them so I think they would be usable for us.
For right now though, we should probably just concentrate on a new clock. I am still in a defend the judges stand mode. Sorry.
Connie

[Andrew 4CE]

Transponders for timing a race would be good, but better if they could be set up for gun jumpers. The offshore category has been using them for years. Each driver has a transponder in their boat. It would take some figuring but other racing venues use them so I think they would be usable for us.
For right now though, we should probably just concentrate on a new clock. I am still in a defend the judges stand mode. Sorry.
Connie

I've talked to just about every transponder company out there... unless you have a dedicated lake it seems too hard to do with current technology at a reasonable price and setup time. Anything on land is easy to do... water makes it very very difficult. The offshore groups use GPS transponders is my understanding. Costs about $5000 for that setup and then a $300-$500 transponder in each boat. not a big deal to someone with funds to race an offshore boat.

[roperz111]

The ZERO

Andrew made me remember an important point. If memory serves me correctly, the instant a digital clock goes to "zero", that means 0.9 sec, not 0.0 sec. Therefore you have almost a full second between when the "zero" number appears and when the clock actually reaches the true zero point, i.e. no time left at all. Of course at speeds of 70mph, one is travelling about 100 feet per second, so you can see how this can impact the distance the driver is in relation to the starting line. You don't have this issue with a sweep hand.

Chris Johnson
111-Z

[BP125V]

zero

Andrew made me remember an important point. If memory serves me correctly, the instant a digital clock goes to "zero", that means 0.9 sec, not 0.0 sec. Therefore you have almost a full second between when the "zero" number appears and when the clock actually reaches the true zero point, i.e. no time left at all. Of course at speeds of 70mph, one is travelling about 100 feet per second, so you can see how this can impact the distance the driver is in relation to the starting line. You don't have this issue with a sweep hand.

Chris Johnson
111-Z

Chris,

when the race starts, or "zero" can really be any time. what ultimately matters is when the little light goes on telling the video operator when the start of the race is. if I had a digital clock I would set the light to go on right when the clock reads zero. that is most intuitive for me and as long as it is always that way and everyone understands it, it would work.

Bill