[Dr_C]

I am not familiar with the LED biasing circuits of the 15b but for the 201b a simple resistor in series with the external LED will ensure both the internal and external LEDs function at the same time... would something similar work with the 15b chip?

MartinF if you want to find a solution to having both LEDs functioning please PM me...

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[Dr_C]

Wouldn't that mean that the car is registered twice each lap ?

No it wouldnt, the way the track sensor is configured it simply wont detect the shurechange positioned LED signal at all. If anyone is interested I can explain why. So two LEDs is not a problem for the F/L. Meanwhile, the lane changers will see both LEDs but that is not a problem for them.

Should... be perfectly fine... only challenge as you point out is getting both LEDs to function at the same time... I have 100% no doubt this is fixable... that said I really appreciate your highlighting the issue of how to get both LEDs functioning

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[Dr_C]

Yes, the double LED configuration is likely to give problems with APB (although I have never tried it). However, forgive me if I am wrong, but I thought the interest here was in addressing the question as to whether sure change equipped cars can be made to function with the ARC PRO... if so, the double LED approach may be a useful solution for some users... I guess it all depends what compatibility is being sought...

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[Dr_C]

Thanks Twigman - agreed and I appreciate your caution around solving one compatibility issue only to create another compatibility issue elsewhere...

Meanwhile, later in the spring I will be looking at a smarter sensor configuration for the ARC PRO (not top of my to-do list at present) but when it does get to the top... I will ensure compatibility with sure change guides is part of the spec...

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[Dr_C]

I assume an IR LED mounredbin front of the guide blade is an issue because the ARC PRO reads both blade and LED. If it reads in sequence then turning the power base around will solve it surely?
If your APB is updated to firmware 1.9 then it ignores the blade sensor and lap counting reliability increases - maybe the ARC PRO firmware needs the same treatment?

It looks like the ARC PRO sensor circuit is a bit different from the APB sensor circuit... the signals from the ID sensor and the blade detect sensor are combined on the sensor pcb for the ARC PRO... so separating the two would involve a hardware change. I dont believe a firmware upgrade to access only the ID sensor (as was the case with the APB) would be possible for the ARC PRO.

From a technical point of view the ARC PRO pcb combines the ID signal with the blade detect signal in such a manner that the blade signal gates the ID signal... unless both ID and blade sensors are activated at the SAME time nothing gets through to the main microprocessor within the P/B.

I too thought that running surechange blades in the opposite direction might solve the problem... but that does not appear to be the case... i assume this is because the microcontroller also requires a particular edge trigger event which is not replicated in the reverse direction.

All interesting stuff...

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