TrakMate   TM-4LC USER’S GUIDE

   


 

TM-4LC Features

1)      Lap time and Best Lap time

2)      Lap time and Position 

3)      Lap Time and Position and Number of Laps

4)      Lap time and Number of Laps

 

 

Contents OF TM-4LC:

QTY

 

 

1

Electronic Lap Counting Unit

 

1

Sensor Cable with 25 pin connector

Small 3mm sensors ( or other type of sensor)

1

LED Cable with 9 pin connector

Red LEDs 5mm

1

3.5” Floppy

TrakMate PC lap counting Software (Free)

1

9 vdc adaptor

Powers the TM-4LC

 

 

 

 

 

Color Code For Sensor And LED Cable

LANE #

WIRE COLOR

1

BROWN

2

ORANGE

3

GREEN

4

BLUE





 

Installation:

 

Caution:  TM-4LC was shipped without an enclosure.  Insure that the board is not laying on conductive metal that may short the circuitry when plugged in.  Four mounting holes are provided to mount it on something.

Caution: Do not hold board by the LCD Display when plugging in Cables.

 

Installing Sensors

The sensor cable is the cable with the larger 25pin connector. The easiest way to install sensors in a plastic track is to build up the thickness of the track on the underside with some hot glue.  Let the glue harden, drill through the plastic and glue using a 1/8” drill bit.  The sensor will fit tightly in the hole no more glue is required.  Use the chart above to install the sensors in their proper lane. 

If you ordered a DEAD STRIP type cable go to www.infoserve.net/oss/slotcar/tm/ds.htm for installation instructions.

 

Installing LEDs

The LED cable is the cable with smaller 9 pin connector.  LEDs can be installed anywhere but each LED corresponds to a lane.  You can install them in the track or in an overhead gantry,

 

 

 

Operating The TM-4LC

 

Note that there is no Power switch on the unit.  There are two white push button switches on the unit referred to as 1 (the switch on the left) and 2 (the switch on the right) on the Display menus. 

 

Running a Race

To run a race place cars BEFORE the sensors do not cover the sensors.  To skip the introduction text on power on hit switch #2  use switch #1 to change number of laps use switch #2 to start race.  The display will display Get Ready…  TM-4LC  uses a Formula 1 style for the start. The Leds will come on one after another until all four LEDs are on.  Start race when all four LEDs turn off.  Race ends when all four LEDs are flashing rapidly

 

Reading The Display And Changing Display Modes

During a race the display is divided into four sections one for each lane. 

 

L A N E  1

L A N E  2

L A N E  3

L A N E  4

 

Lap Time

Best/Pos/lap#

Lap Time

Best/Pos/lap#

Lap Time

Best/Pos/lap#

Lap Time

Best/Pos/lap#

 

Use Switch 1 to switch between Display modes

 

Mode 1 showing lap time and number of laps

7.435

23

6.987

22

6.903

23

7.105

24

 

Mode 2 showing lap time and Best Lap Time

7.435

7.013

6.987

6.903

6.903

6.814

7.105

6.876

 

Mode 3 showing lap time and Position and Lap# 

7.435

P3  23

6.987

P4  22

6.903

P2  23

7.105

P1  24

 

Mode 4 showing lap time and Position only

7.435

P3 

6.987

P4 

6.903

P2 

7.105

P1 

 

Only dashes appear when race has started and no car has crossed the sensor yet

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Reading The LEDs

The LEDs have four functions

  1. At the start of a race the Leds will come on one after another until all four LEDs are on.  Start race when all four LEDs turn off.  
  2. If car starts too early then its corresponding LED will turn back on for 1 second (and your first lap will not count).
  3. The LEDs During the race will indicate what position your in as follows
    1. LED ON for 1st place
    2. LED flashing rapidly for 2nd place
    3. LED flashing slowly for 3rd place
    4. LED off for 4th place
  4. ALL 4 LEDs flashing very rapidly indicates end of race

 

 

 

 

 

Trouble Shooting

If Laps are counting all the time with out car crossing the sensor insure you have enough light above the sensors.

 

Without running any cars the display should look like this at start of race if sensors are working properly

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