Micro RC personal lap counter...

[Lapdragon]

For anyone interested in a lap counting system for their mini/micro RC car, here's something that may interest you.

http://www.lapdragon.com

You can download the preliminary manual in PDF format from there. It will be updated throughout the next few weeks, but it should explain what it's all about.

take care,
Brian

[Ohm]

What do they cost?

[Lapdragon]

The price has not been finalized yet, but expect it to cost around $80 dollars for 1 transmitter, and 1 receiver. You will be able the receiver separately for a lower cost since the transmitter can be shared by several racers.

Brian

[tinyrc]

Lapdragon, it looks good, and the price is good too! Is this for single car use or can multiple transponders be used (on different IR channels)?

[Ohm]

That is a pretty good price.

The strange thing is, just before I read this thread I was looking at radio shacks site for phototransistors to build an almost identical setup.

Tiny, the cool thing about this setup is that you can have any amount of cars using it at the same time. The timer is in the car. The stationary transmiter just trips the timer.

The bad thing is that at the end you have to stop and read, record, compare all the times from the cars.

I think I'll still probably build my own simple version with a cheap stopwatch, a phototransistor and a laser pointer. But that price ain't bad at all for people who don't want to go to the trouble.

[usagi]

Ok, $80 is fine, but what about the cost of additional rec units? Noway I would pay more then $15.00 of each...........

[Ohm]

You can't even buy a stopwatch with lap memory for $15.00.

I know, I'm looking for one. ;)

[usagi]

:rolleyes: well if you can burn money fine, but cost and controling it is important OHM to small scale racing. Thats the reason why I saying paying more then $15 for a reciever for each car( if you need say 8) does NOT add up to a small amount of investment. So at the end you end up paying alot of money up front. Thats My point.

[Ohm]

If you need 8 then those 8 people should each buy their own.

They would have 8 individual lap timers that they could take home and use alone or use together with others.

They could pool their money and build a pc based version cheaper (assuming they have a laptop or spare computer sitting around) but then they would just have one not 8.

But I really don't think this setup is ideal for head to head racing. It's best suited for tuning by yourself or drag/rally racing.

If you had two transmiters think how easy it would be to setup a drag strip or test topspeed.

[usagi]

Originally posted by Ohm
If you need 8 then those 8 people should each buy their own.

They would have 8 individual lap timers that they could take home and use alone or use together with others.

They could pool their money and build a pc based version cheaper (assuming they have a laptop or spare computer sitting around) but then they would just have one not 8.

But I really don't think this setup is ideal for head to head racing. It's best suited for tuning by yourself or drag/rally racing.

If you had two transmiters think how easy it would be to setup a drag strip or test topspeed.
its does not always workout like you think. IF you are owner of the club or track more on the tracks ownside to provide to rec of the cars........It does not matter it is 5 to 8 .its still a LARGE amount of money OHM.If you have then you setup a club and buy all the rec and trans stuff. ...



Back to what i was refering to cost. the 80.00 is a great price, now how much are the extra rec?

[Lapdragon]

I don't have an exact cost for the receiver by itself, but it should be around $60. The receiver is really the guts of the system and is the most expensive to build.

regards,
Brian

[Ohm]

$60 seems like a fair price.

The cheapest stopwatch with lap counter and lap memory and countdown start I could find is $20 and that's only because it's on sale. Figure another $20 to $30 for the rest of the parts you need and $80 doesn't sound so high.

Will you be selling the laser separately as well?

[Lapdragon]

Yes, I will be selling the transmitter separately. Figure on $30. I would like to offer a more affordable transmitter at a later time, but with my volumes being so low right now, the cost of the components, case, and hardware is surprisingly steep, not the mention the labor involved.

regards,
Brian

[usagi]

If the prices can come down, you will really get alot of buyers. The system seems good, I can`t wait to see.

[Ohm]

How about a kit? :)

[Lapdragon]

Ohm,

The problem with a kit is that unless EVERY builder of the kit had the same assembly skills(soldering, etc...), there would be no consistency in the finished units. I'd be afraid of units getting solder shorts, and other problems, which would lead to damaged components.

Thanks for the suggestion though,

Brian

[usagi]

I think a kit would be good, but make it user or dummy friendy.

[tinyrc]

Lapdragon, I'm really looking forward to seeing this product, and I think the pricing is perfect.

[Ted theMechanic]

Hi there. Me and my mates are currently looking at timers/lap counters for our 1/10 rally cars. This system looks promisisng... There's five of us (for now) so we'd have to umm, push the price a little. :D :D :D