PortaTree Photocells - Manual

SPECIAL NOTES CONCERNING PHOTO CELLS
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR HIGH HEAT APPLICATION
OR UNITS TO BE USED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT
Any time photo cells are to be used where there is the possibility of high heat or direct
sunlight, there are precautions that must be taken to keep the heat away from the photo
cell. We recommend that the photo cells be mounted inside of a white PVC tube,
preferable a thick wall type. The photo cell should be mounted on a very rigid support
and then the plastic tube should be inserted over the photo cell. Any type material that
would conduct the heat and transmit it to the photo cell housing must be avoided.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR INTENSE LIGHT APPLICATION
A photo cell that is being used in an application that is exposed to intense sunlight or
in a highly reflective environment may need to blind the area around the light source or
reflector. You should have a 12 inch by 12 inch black square surrounding the light
source which means that the light source or the reflector (the starting line requires a
different setup) will be mounted in the center of the black square. This square could be
made of plywood and must be painted with a flat black paint to absorb surrounding light.
The reflector can further be shielded by mounting a tin can (coffee can) in the center of
the black square and the reflector inside the center of the tin can. This will keep direct
sunlight from shining on the reflector and overpowering the infrared emission from the
photo cell.
SEE MANUAL ON SETTING UP AN ACCURATE DRAG TRACK STARTING LINE
If you are using infrared SBL1 reflector type infrareds on the starting line with
reflectors on the outside of the track, you must be very careful setting up the starting line
stage beams. When the vehicle rolls out of the stage beam, and the infrared sees the
reflection off of the reflector, the E.T. clock begins and the reaction time is clocked.
When you are using reflector type infrareds at the starting line, there is always the
possibility that the vehicles chrome or polished aluminum wheel could reflect the light
back to the infrared as it is rolling forward and prematurely trip the Portatree III and give
a false reaction time.
You must shield the stage infrared by first setting the detector up and setting the
rollout, and then placing a 1 inch water pipe that is 24 inches long between the infrared
and the reflector, at the infrared. The water pipe will limit the field of vision of the
infrared and will reduce if not eliminate the false signals.
12 inches = 30.48 centimeters
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
24 inches = 60.96 centimeters