Simple PhotoCell Timing System
(S.P.T.S.)
Installation Instructions

(c) Bryan Brown & Art McEwen 1997-1999
All rights reserved, not to be copied without permission.

A WORD ABOUT SCUDERIA MCEWEN

Scuderia McEwen International is a small team of slot car hobbyists located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. We are not a commercial enterprise and we are not attempting to turn a profit from our hobby. Our goal is to promote 1/32nd scale slot car racing around the world, via the Internet. Our products are designed for the two, three or four lane home track enthusiast, and are intended for "Do-It-Yourselfers". We do NOT sell hardware or software but we do ask for a small contribution, if you use our products successfully (to help offset our development costs and keep us motivated).

Our development philosophy is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). We are not experts in anything (particularly electronics), but we like to dabble and experiment and we are always open to suggestions. We also greatly appreciate the help and information that fellow slotters pass on to us.

WHAT DO YOU GET WITH S.P.T.S.?

For slotters who are serious enough to inquire about our Simple PhotoCell Timing System, after having seen the demonstration copies of the software on our Internet site, we provide access to the following via email:
  1. A complete set of instructions for installing PhotoCells (you are reading it now!);
  2. A copy of our program "CHITI", our Installation Helper Software to facilitate installation;
  3. A copy of the "PARM.TXT" file which allows you to customize track name, colours etc;
  4. A copy of any one of our basic timing programs, namely "DINO" (one lane), "ENZO" (two lane), "MONTY" (three lane) or PROST (four lane), all of which feature Large Display Computer Timing;
  5. As much support, via email, as we can reasonably provide.

We do NOT supply PhotoCells, wiring, DB25 connector, etc. Everything you need you should be able to buy at your local electronic supply store (e.g. Radio Shack in North America) or scrounge from your parts bin.

PRICING FOR S.P.T.S.

What does S.P.T.S cost? Nothing! You will probably have to spend $5.00 US to $10.00 US for a few bits and pieces. We send the entire S.P.T.S. kit to you for free and we will support you as best we can over the Internet, for free. If you are successful at installing the Simple PhotoCell Timing System, then we do ask that you send us a $10.00 US donation to help defer the cost of our research and development. When you are successful and you send us your contribution to our R&D, we will send you all of our "Advanced Software", including our exciting LEMANS, AYRTON and MARIO programs which all work with the same PhotoCell technology. LEMANS, our endurance program featuring virtual fuel consumption, combines the excitement of slot car racing with the authenticity of computer simulation and the link between the two technologies is the S.P.T.S.!

Naturally, if you stay in touch with us, we will be glad to forward, free of charge, any software upgrades or new programs that we develop.

THEORY OF OPERATION

ALL ABOUT PHOTOCELLS

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

"TRIGGER POINTS"

WIRING

LIGHT SOURCE

INSTALLING PHOTOCELLS IN THE TRACK

SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

OPTIONAL EXTERNAL START LIGHTS

TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE

CHANGING PCELL RESISTANCES

INSTALLATION SUMMARY

CONTACT US



THE END


Updated July 21/2001