The RCA 400 Lap Timer and Data Logger User Manual
Contents
1. 512M byte SD card will last you at least a season so you may wish to keep this and buy a new one at the start of the next season There are SD cards and SD cards If you use less than the best you may not to be able to sample data fast enough and the data will be corrupted Also you will need to format the card with Podium Flash before you use it Podium Flash will write a setup file to the card at the end of the formatting procedure and it is sensible to check the setup before using a new card Warning the data logger continues to write data to the SD card until the power to the data logger and steering wheel is switched off The logger then requires some time to write data held in buffer memories to the card and to complete the file Do not remove the card before at least 4 seconds has elapsed after the power has been switched off In order for the system to complete a file the back up battery in the data logger enclosure must be charged If you are having trouble writing files to the card try leaving power connected to the data logger for an hour or so to charge the battery If the battery is not charged the real time clock and calendar will not be able to maintain the data and time Page 19 5 Data Logging Data logging with the RCA400 completely different from previous Farringdon systems Data is logged against time that is every so many milliseconds all the channels are read and the results stored on the SD card The data coll2. about 2 seconds The display will change to screen 2 and show SetuP in the Lap Time Win dow and for a moment shows what the three bottom windows will contain The Speed Window will display the Function Number the Elapsed Time Window will show a hint at what function has been selected as far as possi ble with the 7 segment displays used on the steering wheel display and the Gauge Window will show the value of the function This value can be changed with the right hand buttons For Example Function 2 is the Hold Time the time the lap time should be frozen in the Lap Time Window after passing the beacon When setting up this time the Speed Window will display 2 the Elapsed Time Window will display Hold and the Gauge Win dow will display the time set Pressing the top right hand button will increase the time and pressing the bottom right hand button will decrease it Some Functions are On or Off These are changed by pressing the top right hand button for On and the bottom right hand button for Off Once all the changes have been made the Set Up Mode can be left by pressing both left hand buttons together for about 3 seconds A table listing the various parameters to set up is shown below Once you have used it a few times you will find that the hints are enough to guide you through the Set Up process Page 8 shown in the gauge window The best lap is shown also during the power up sequence and can be cleared by pressing
3. any button at the next point in the sequence 4 12 Displaying RPM As an option available in Set Up the Lap Time RPM window can be made to show RPM rather than lap time If this option is selected then the lap time is shown in the elapsed time window as seconds After reaching 59 99 the display rolls over to 0 00 Although the minutes are not shown this display is adequate for lap timing 4 13 The Performance Monitor Option The Performance Monitor provides the unfair advantage that every driver is looking for Further if you are prepared to entrust you car to someone who you know will drive faster than you the Performance Monitor becomes a very powerful training aid The system works as follows The best lap must be cleared at the start of a session at a new circuit Dur ing the first complete lap and on all subsequent laps the time into the lap is stored in memory every few metres along the track After the hold time has expired the lap time window then displays the difference between the time at this point on the circuit for this lap and the time for the best lap This differ ence is recalculated every few meters and the display updated The difference between these times is displayed either in the large lap time window or as a bar graph in screen 3 To use the Performance Monitor set function 7 Perf to ON Make sure that you clear the best lap at the start of the session 4 1 4 Engine RPM Data The later versions
4. performance bar graph is shown In set up mode the bar graph or a simple or time can be chosen for the performance display If the numeric option is chosen then screen 1 is used Top Lefhand ind Relative Tir 2 3 The Windows 2 3 1 Lap Number Window This shows the number of completed laps Remember that it will show lap 1 when the beacon is first seen The lap number can be cleared by pressing buttons 1 and 4 at the same time 2 3 2 The Lap Time Window The lap time window displays the lap time either frozen after passing the beacon until the hold time has expired or as an increasing time after switch on or after the hold time has expired If the Performance Monitor is switched on and no bar graph is chosen then after the Hold Time has expired see Section 5 the Lap Time Window shows the difference in time into the lap between the current and best laps as a time prefixed with a or sign If the bar graph option is selected in set up then screen 3 is displayed 2 3 3 The Speed Gauge 2 Window Shows the Speed in MPH or KPH Speed can be shown only over a mini mum value that will depend on the wheel circumference and the number of wheel pulses detected in a full wheel revolution Alternatively this window can display a gauge reading If a gauge reading is displayed here speed can be shown by holding the top left hand button down for 3 seconds The speed is then shown alternately with the letters SPd
5. to remind you that speed is being displayed This is designed for pit lane use and window can be Page 6 the data was recorded The clock can only be set through Podium Flash First make sure that the clock on your PC is correct then in the setup dia logue tick the Set Time check box About the files recorded on the SD card The files are numbered sequentially from 1 to 999 This number will not reset unless the non volatile memory becomes corrupted in which case everything is set to the default state and the file number is set to 0 The files have a created and last modified date and time these are the dates and times at which logging starts and ends The first three characters of the card s Volume Name set when the card is formatted is included as characters 2 3 and 4 of the file name This al lows the race engineer to label the cards for each car so that files from one car are not confused with files from another Characters 5 6 and 7 are the file number and character 8 is either L or N Files ending in L are files containing Laps of data that is a qualifying or race session Files ending in N are files created with No laps that is warming up or engine test ses sions These letters help in identifying data when files are transferred to Podium Flash The files are read only and cannot be deleted When the card is full you must re format it with Podium Flash If you are logging at a sample period of 100 milliseconds a single
6. was last reset 4 2 Speed Speed can be shown all the time or on demand in the in the Speed Gauge 2 window see Set Up The speed is calculated from the time between the pulses coming from the wheel sensor Because this timer can measure only small times speed cannot be shown until some minimum value is reached This value depends on the number of pulses per wheel turn from the wheel sensor and the diameter of the wheel Typically the lowest speed that can be displayed is between 10 and 30 mph If the Speed Gauge 2 window is displaying another gauge then pressing the top left hand button for about 2 seconds causes the Speed Gauge 2 window to show speed This function has been added to monitor your speed in the pit lane To confirm that speed is being displayed the speed is shown alter nating with the text SPd To clear the speed display press the bottom left hand button 4 3 Elapsed Time The elapsed time is displayed in the bottom centre window and can be reset to zero by pressing both bottom buttons for a second or two The units are normally minutes and seconds but can be changed to hours and minutes in Set Up 44 Oil Pressure Oil pressure is the measurement of the highest priority and an oil pressure warning will overrule any other When the engine is not running an oil pres sure warning can be turned off in the normal way by pressing either right hand buttons but when the engine is running this alarm cannot be turned off Th
7. Displaying Your Fastest Lap Use the top or bottom right hand buttons to scroll the Gauge window be yond Oil Pressure so that the display shows Recalling Your Lap Times Enter Recall Mode by pressing both right hand buttons together The dis play changes to Showing the last lap was lap 14 with a lap time of 1 23 76 Use the right hand buttons to select the maximum temperatures and minimum pressures in this lap Here the minimum oil pressure was 68 psi Use the left hand buttons to scroll backwards and forwards through the lap time memory Press both right hand buttons again to exit Recall Mode Farringdon Instruments Limited Unit 9 Oriel Court Omega Park ALTON Hampshire GU34 2YT Telephone 01420 541591 Facsimile 01420 587212 www farringdininstruments co uk Page 24 FARRINGDON iF AeA FARRINGDON revous ap RCA60 Display The RCA 400 Lap Timer and Data Logger User Manual Revision 2 Contents 1 Introduction 2 The Controls and What is Displayed Page 2 2A The Buttons 2 2 The Display 2 2 1 Screen 1 2 2 2 Screen 2 2 2 3 Screen 3 2 3 The Windows 2 3 1 Lap Number Window 2 3 2 The Lap Time Window 2 3 3 The Speed Gauge 2 Window 2 3 4 The Elapsed Time Window 2 3 5 The Gauge 1 Window Set Up Mode 3 1 General 3 2 Function 0 Tachometer and Other Displays 3 3 Function 1 Set Defaults 3 4 Function 2 Session Number 3 5 Function 3 Hold Time 3 6 Function 4 Blank Time 3 7 Functi
8. e alarm given in the Lap time RPM window is a flashing OiL 4 5 Water Temperature Water temperature is the second highest priority Its alarm can be turned off at any time The alarm is displayed in the Lap Time RPM window as Hot Page 15 3 18 Tacho Filter Often pulses from the ignition system are noisy and have to be filtered to give reliable tacho readings This function sets the minimum pulse widths that are counted as tacho pulses The units are in microseconds plus 50 Set this to 100 as a start 3 19 Tach Pulse Polarity This is set to positive by default Positive Polarity ON 3 20 Fuel and Other Alarm Limits Set the fuel pressure level oil temperature water temperature and oil pres sure limits at levels at which you want an alarm to be given 3 21 Shift Light Set Up There are no shift lights on the LCD display so this function is not applicable to the RCA400 3 22 Gear Indicator Set Up There no gear position indicator on the LCD display so this function is not applicable to the RCA400 3 23 Monitoring Inputs in Set Up Mode A very useful Monitoring Mode is available in Set Up Functions 30 to 33 read out the values of each axis from the Accelerometer all 8 User Chan nels and the gear pot Use the values to check the working of any sensors you have connected to the User Channels and to check the accelerometer The figures displayed are the outputs of the system ADC and range from 1023 for an input o
9. ected for each sample is as follows Time into lap time from beacon Speed RPM Oil Pressure Water Temperature Oil Temperature Fuel Level or Pressure Battery Voltage Lateral G Axial G Data Logger Temperature User 1 User 2 User 8 In addition at the end of each lap the following data is collected and stored on the card Lap Time Lap Number Session Number Minimum Oil Pressure Maximum Water Temperature Maximum Oil Temperature Minimum Fuel Level or Pressure Minimum Battery Voltage Maximum RPM for the lap User 1 reading at the beacon User 2 reading at the beacon User 8 reading at the beacon To use the data logging you must set up the tacho pulses the wheel pulses and circumference and you must decide on the rate at which you want to record data and what criterion should be used to start logging These param eters can be set up on the steering wheel or from Podium Flash the data analysis software You should set the real time clock in the data logger so that you know when Page 18 returned to the gauge reading by pressing the bottom left hand button 2 3 4 The Elapsed Time Window If lap times are shown in the lap time rpm window then elapsed time from power on is shown in this window Pressing both bottom buttons for about 3 seconds will clear this time It is used to show time into a qualifying session or an endurance race or driver session If RPM is shown in the Lap Time RPM window then this window shows
10. f 5 volts the maximum and 0 for ground voltage The display wraps round after 999 so 1024 reads as 23 3 24 Clearing System Memories Function 30 allows three memories to be cleared Setting the function to 1 will clear the tell tale reading setting it to 2 will clear the Lap End memory and setting it to 128 will clear the Odometer To clear more than one at a time simply add the values together For example to clear the tell tale and the Lap End memory enter 3 Page 14 3 2 Tachometer and Other Display Options The tachometer option is the first to be accessed so that the Lap Timer may be switched off and replaced by a digital tachometer Set to On to display RPM This is followed by options for the Speed Gauge 2 window The hint shown in the Elapsed Time window are as follows SPd Speed OilP Oil Pressure Cool Water Temperature or CHT OilT Oil temperature FuP Fuel Pressure or level 3 3 Set Defaults Setting this Function to On sets all functions back to the factory settings Set to yes then leave set up mode by pressing both left hand keys 3 4 Session Number The session number is stored with lap times and data It is incremented every time the beacon is seen on the out lap but can be set manually with this function 3 5 Hold Time The Hold Time is the time in seconds that the lap time is frozen in the Lap Time Window after passing the beacon Set this to be long enough for you to reach a suitable place
11. lap time but only the seconds For example a lap time of 1 minute 2 38 se conds will be displayed as 2 38 2 3 5 The Gauge 1 Window The gauge 1 window shows the value of the selected Temperature Pressure or Level as selected by the right hand buttons Scrolling past Oil Pressure cause other measurements to be shown in the Lap Time Window and an appropriate label in the Gauge Window such as tac Ftd bat or US1 See Section 2 2 3 4 Page 7 3 Set Up 3 1 General The system may be set up either from your laptop or through the buttons on the display The set up state is held in memory in the control box and on the SD card If the SD card is in the control box then the setup is taken from this If you change the setup with the SD card in the control box the setup on the card is changed as well To set up the system using your laptop start the data analysis program Podium Flash supplied with the system and click on the top menu SETUP Insert the SD card into the laptop the Sandisk cards supplied fold in half to reveal a connector that plugs into your laptop s USB sockets Now click on Logger and the set up pages are displayed Change the setup to suit your requirements and click OK Wait for a few seconds for the setup file to be written to the card Remove the card and insert in in the control box When the system is switched on the new setup will be copied to the system To enter Set Up Mode press both left hand buttons for
12. m Oil Pressure Alarm Limit psi 20 tac LedS Shift Light Settings Green LED 1 to Red LED 9 rpm x 10 to 90 100 see note 1 20 G ip Electrical Gear Input Connected see note 1 OFF 21 N ip Neutral Switch Input Connected see note 1 OFF 22 Gr 1 Gear 1 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 23 Gr 2 Gear2 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 24 Gr 3 Gear 3 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 25 Gr 4 Gear 4 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 26 Gr 5 Gear 5 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 27 Gr 6 Gear 6 mph 5000 rpm or pot reading see note 1 28 Grn Potentiometer reading for neutral see note 1 29 Grr Potentiometer reading for reverse see note 1 Monitor Mode 30 Xg Displays value read from x G sensor 31 Yg Displays value read from y G sensor 32 Usr1 8 Displays value read from User 1 8 Input 33 Gear Displays Gear potentiometer reading see note 1 34 CL Clears Memories Set to 1 to clear tell tale Set to 2 to Clear Lap End Memory Set to 128 to Clear Odometer To clear more than one item enter sum of codes E g to everything enter 131 1 2 128 Page 10 Note 1 Not used for LCD Display 4 Using the RCA400 4 1 Odometer The odometer total distance travelled is displayed when the system powers up It can be cleared back to zero by using function 34 in the set up proce dure It shows the total number of whole miles or kilometres travelled since it
13. nary ad 6 0 Silverstone National aah f ZA Saena va A go Lani 1 1296 f fr Lams 10765 L f Lap 001 04 10813 Bee Lap 001 5 10655 I Lap 001 06 1 05 66 Speed SA Lap 001 07 1 04 65 Leonie 10597 s Lan oouo 1 0550 Lap OOL 10 In Lap Lap 03 2 10465 Lanm33 1 0403 5 Lap 003 04 1 04 60 Lap 003 65 InLap Wheel sosen piloat Lap ooo c2 105 02 mo 2a Ei zo 1000 1250 1500 750 En 250 2500 Notes circuit ap E Reference Lap C31024a Lan COLO 110465 ll Current Lap 0310243 Lap 001 08 1 05 97 A Page 20 2 2 The Display The layout of the display changes depending of what is displayed There are three screens each divided into windows These are shown below 2 2 1 Screen 1 Screen 1 is displayed when the lap time is the principal display The lap time is shown in large characters the lap number and elapsed time in medium characters and the speed gauge2 window and the gauge window in the smallest characters These are not meant to be read during racing but rather when setting up the system Lay Lap Tir Number Elapsed Tir peed Gau zau ind ind ind 2 2 2 Screen 2 Screen 2 is displayed when ever any warnings are shown or when the sys tem is in set up mode Lar Lap Tir Number Elapsed Tir peed Gau ind Page 5 2 2 3 Screen 3 Screen 3 is used when the
14. ng must be ON so setting this function ON also sets the Data Logging function ON Remember to clear the best lap when you visit a different track 3 10 RCA400 Special Set Up This parameter sets up various aspects of the RCA400 as follows Top Left Window For PM Range Performance Time in Large Chrs Lap Number Lap Number Lap Number Lap Number Elapsed Time Elapsed Time Elapsed Time Elapsed Time Page 12 3 11 Elapsed Time Units Elapsed Time can be measured in minutes and seconds or hours and minutes The latter is useful for endurance races 3 12 Number of Wheel Pulses per Turn Enter the number of pulses the wheel sensor will generate for each tuen of the wheel the number of targets 3 13 Wheel Circumference Enter the wheel circumference in centimetres The circumference is best measured by marking the tyre on the wheel to which the sensor is attached and rotating it at least twice measuring the distance covered and dividing by the number of times the wheel was turned To show the speed in KPH divide the circumference by 1 6 and enter this value 3 14 Wheel Turns per Sample The Performance Monitor if fitted will calculate the number of wheel turns counted between sampling the time from beacon This function displays the result Do not change 3 15 Sample Period Enter the sample time you want to use A good figure for comparing driving style would be 100 msecs If you have suspension potentiometer
15. nto the pits by switching the beacon to the IN position The word Pits is shown flashing in the Lap Time RPM window 4 10 Recall Mode If the right hand buttons are pressed together for 3 seconds Recall Mode is entered The last lap time is shown in the Lap Time RPM window together with the lap number in the Lap window The right hand buttons may be used to select a gauge The gauge reading is the minimum or maximum for that lap Minimum pressures and maximum temperatures are recorded Use the left hand buttons to scroll through the laps retained in memory Pressing both right hand buttons together for 3 seconds causes the system to exit Recall Mode 4 11 Best Lap Ftd The best lowest lap time is stored and can be displayed by using the right hand buttons to scroll up to the point where Ftd fastest time of the day is Page 16 Function Hint in Function Description Default Number Elapsed Value Time Window 0 Tach Display tachometer in Lap Time Window OFF SPd Display Speed in the Speed Gauge 2 Window ON OilP Display Oil Pressure in the Speed Gauge 2 OFF Cool Display Water Temp in the Speed Gauge 2 OFF OilT Display Oil Temp in Speed Gauge 2 Window OFF FuP Display Fuel Pressure or level in S Gauge 2 OFF 1 def Set Everything to Default Values OFF 2 SESS Session Number this automatically increases every time 0 the system is turned on 3 Hold Hold Time in sec
16. of the RCA400 contain a simple engine rpm monitor Pressing buttons 1 and 3 together for 3 seconds displays this feature Once entered pressing buttons 3 or 4 scroll through the times that the engine has exceeded certain rpm A total engine running time is also kept and available in this mode To exit press buttons 1 and 3 together for 3 seconds or turn off the power Page 17 4 6 Oil Temperature Oil Temperature is the third highest priority Its alarm is also Hot but the Oil Temp legend OilT will be shown 4 7 Fuel Fuel level or pressure is the lowest priority and its alarm is Fuel 4 8 Battery Voltage Battery voltage can be displayed in the Lap Time RPM window by pressing the top right hand button until Bat is shown in the gauge window There is no warning for battery voltage 4 9 The Lap Timer When switched on the system enters its power up sequence before reaching its normal state The lap time starts at 00 00 00 and increments continuously until it sees the beacon for the first time The lap time is then frozen for the hold time The hold time is adjustable in Set Up The number of laps com pleted is shown in the two digit lap window The number rolls over from 99 to 0 The Lap Time may be displayed in the large Lap Time RPM window or alter natively in the centre bottom window in place of elapsed time See Set UP for details If the IN channel has been set up correctly your car can be called i
17. on 5 Infra Red Channel Number 3 8 Function 6 IN Channel 3 9 Function 7 Performance Monitor Display 3 10 Function 8 RCA400 Special Set Up 3 11 Function 9 Elapsed Time Units 3 12 Function 10 Number of Wheel Pulses 3 13 Function 11 Wheel Circumference 3 14 Function 12 Wheel Turns per Sample 3 15 Function 13 Sample Period 3 16 Function 14 Start Logging Trigger 3 17 Function 15 Number of Tach Pulses per Two Turns 3 18 Function 16 Tacho Filter 3 19 Function 17 Tacho Pulse Polarity 3 20 Fuel and Other Alarm Limits 3 21 Shift Light Set Up 3 22 Gear Indicator Set Up 3 23 Monitoring Inputs in Set Up Mode 3 24 Function 33 Clear Function Using the RCA400 System 4 1 Odometer 4 2 Speed 4 3 Elapsed Time 8 Quick Reference Clearing the Fastest Lap and Preparing the Performance Monitor for a Different Circuit Turn On ignition with any button held pressed The display will change to Release the button and the display will change to show your fastest lap Fastest Time of the Day The display will then change to As soon as this display appears press any button and the display will change to Now you have successfully cleared the fastest lap and told the system to clear the performance monitor memory DO NOT trigger false laps with the beacon before going out on your first lap of a new circuit Page 23 track These probably emit very strong IR signals which will satura
18. on the track to glance down and read it Setting the Hold Time to 0 changes three aspects of the display First the lap time remains displayed throughout the lap second the Performance Meter is shown in the Elapsed Time window and third gauge warnings are signified by a flashing gauge window until the car is moving 3 6 Blank Time This is the time that the Infra Red Detector ignores all signals after seeing its beacon 10 seconds is a good time to use but it can be extended to blank out other beacons placed around the track in order to generate segment times on some other systems 3 7 Infra Red Channel Number Set this to the channel number you are going to use If you wish to use the PI Beacons on most UK circuits and you have a dual channel IR Detector then set the channel number to 0 Page 11 3 8 IN Channel Number All Farringdon Beacons come with an channel number from 1 to 250 Set this channel number to that of your beacon This is most easily done by pointing the beacon switched to IN at the IR Detector while at this point in the set up procedure The Gauge Window will show the channel number detected 3 9 Performance Monitor Display The Performance Monitor shows the time difference in the Lap Time Window between the time to the current point on the track and the time taken in the Best Lap to reach the same point It is shown only after the Hold Time has expired If you turn this display ON then the data loggi
19. onds Time that the Lap Time is frozen 30 after passing the beacon 4 binc Blank Time in seconds Time that the IR receiver ignores 10 any other input after seeing its beacon 5 IrCh Channel Number for IR Detector Choose 0 to receive PI 1 beacon at UK Tracks 6 InCh IN Channel Number Set this to IN code of beacon 100 7 PerF Performance Monitor Display ON or OFF OFF 8 rCA4 RCA400 Special Set Up see Section 3 10 0 9 Hour Elapsed Time in Hours and Minutes normally in Minutes OFF and Seconds 10 PPt Pulses per Turn from Wheel Sensor 2 11 Circ Wheel Circumference in centimetres 180 12 tps Turns per Sample Number of wheel turns between PM 2 sample DO NOT CHANGE 13 Per Sample Period in milliseconds 100 14 Strt Start Data Logging Trigger 0 never 1 when powered on 2 when engine started and 3 when min speed reached Logging stops when power is turned off 15 tach Number of Pulses per Two Engine Revolutions 4 16 Filt Tacho Pulse Filter units are usecs 50 100 17 POSP Tacho Pulse Polarity Positive ON Page 9 Function Hint in Function Decription Default Number Elapsed Value Time Window 18 Fun Fuel Sensor Output Inverted OFF 19 Fud Fuel Sensor Delay Delays fuel alarm for 10 seconds OFF so that fuel alarm is not triggered by cornering AL Lim Alarm Limit for Oil Temperature 110 AL Lim Alarm Limit for Water Temperature degrees C 95 AL Li
20. peration can only be guaranteed when the beacon is sited away from all others A distance of 5 metres along the pit wall is probably safe The Lap Timer will ignore all infra red signals on the same carrier frequency that do not contain the Main Channel or IN codes saved in its memory but if you find that lap times are obviously incorrect look for another Beacon using your channel on the pit wall With only four channels to choose from it may be that more than four teams are using Beacons at the same track In this case agree to use a single beacon and set all the Lap Timers to respond to this channel It is especially important to site the Beacon away from other beacons using large external batteries and having a large array of LEDs pointing over the Page 21 Engine Life Statistics Pressing buttons 1 and 3 together switches the system to show engine life statistics The display first shows the total engine life since this timer was reset Pressing button 3 shows the time over the highest rev limit assigned to the engine pressing it again shows the time over the next lowest Time is recorded for four levels of rpm and these can be scrolled through with buttons 3 and 4 This information should be shown to your engine builder in case of an accidental over revving of the engine 6 Data Analysis Data analysis is provided by PC software package supplied by PolyLogic called Podium Flash 150 ie 125 ee FN ar Pri 8 g
21. re feel They are deliberately stiff and will not respond to very short pushes This prevents them being pressed accidentally or operated by vibration While driving the right hand buttons select the gauge that is displayed in the gauge position on the LCD If the Oil P legend is shown the oil pressure in psi is shown next to it Pressing the bottom right hand button causes the Water legend to be dis played and the water temperature in degrees centigrade is shown next to it Pressing the top right hand button switches the display back to Oil Pressure In this way the right hand buttons scroll through the gauges Pressing both top buttons for about 3 seconds clears the lap count This is often necessary on the starting grid after passing the lap timing beacon dur ing the parade and warm up laps Pressing both bottom buttons for about 3 seconds clears the elapsed time This may be done at the start of a qualifying session or the start of an endur ance race or session The remaining combinations are pressing both left hand buttons or both right hand buttons After holding both left hand buttons for about 3 seconds the set up mode is entered See Section 3 After holding both right hand but tons for about 3 seconds Recall Mode is entered See section 5 2 Page 4 To look at the data collected simply remove the SD card and plug it into your lap top Instructions for the lap top software are supplied with the CD ROM Plo
22. s on the User channels you may wish to sample much faster The maximum sam pling speed is 500 samples per second for this enter a sample period of 2 milliseconds At this rate you should be able to see frequencies of 100 HZ 3 16 Start Logging Trigger Enter the code as follows 0 never 1 when ever power is applied 2 when a speed of 40 mph is reached and 3 when the engine has started We recommend the latter as it gives important diagnostic data while the en gine is being warmed up Data logging stops when power is removed 3 17 Number of Tachometer Pulses for Two Revs Of the Engine The number entered depends on your ignition system If electronic ignition is used then there will probably be a tacho pulse output If not it may be nec essary to purchase an HT sensor which clips on to a plug lead which will produce just one pulse per two turns for a 4 stroke engine Page 13
23. te your Lap Timer ptance cone angle is about 15 degrees Ensure that the IR Detector will fall within the Beacon s beam and just as important be sure that the acceptance cone of the IR Detector includes the Beacon when the car passes it Page 22 Oil Pressure Water Temperature Oil Temperature Fuel Battery Voltage The Lap Timer Recall Mode Best Lap Ftd Displaying RPM The Performance Monitor Option Engine RPM Data Data Logging Data Analysis Beacon Settings and Siting 7 1 7 2 Understanding Infra Red Communications Beacon Conflicts Quick Reference Page 3 1 Introduction Thank you for choosing the Farringdon RCA400 Lap Timer and Data Logger This manual will describe how to use and set up system in your car Of course the system will not work properly until it has been loaded with all the essential information about your car for example the circumference of the wheel So please take a little time to ensure that you know how to set up the system before you use it for the first time 2 The Controls and What is Displayed The Display has four buttons and an Liquid Crystal Display LCD The LCD is a graphic type which allows characters of different sizes or graphics to be displayed the screen This section explains how to use the buttons and what is displayed on the LCD 2 1 The Buttons Each side of the LCD there are two push buttons These buttons will click when pressed and give an over cent
24. ts such as the one shown above can be displayed using the Podium Flash Data Analysis package 7 Beacon Setting and Siting 7 1 Understanding Infra Red Communications Infra red light IR from light emitting diodes LEDs can be turned on and off very quickly and it is this property that makes infra red ideal for short range communications To increase the sensitivity of the receivers a carrier frequency is used to turn on and off the LED The receiver can then look for light that is being modulated at this frequency amongst other background light To impose information on the infra red beam this carrier frequency is itself turned on and off There are two ways in which this form of communication can be interrupted first by any light source strong enough to saturate the receiver for example the sun or another more powerful IR source and second other transmissions using the same carrier frequency The reason for the recessed lens and photodiode in the IR detector is to shield it from direct sunlight so providing the IR detector will not see the setting sun behind the beacon it will not be saturated by the sun However some other lap timer and data logging systems do use the same carrier frequency and others use much more powerful IR beams and it is for this reason that you must take care where the beacon is positioned 7 2 Beacon Conflicts From the explanation given in the previous section it is clear that reliable o
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