Ground that Metal Track!

General timing system discussions.
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John Shreffler
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 163
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 8:32 pm
Location: Vienna, VA
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Ground that Metal Track!

Post by John Shreffler »

I have had some recent correspondence with my customers regarding aluminum tracks, and have not seen this issue discussed before on DerbyTalk. I just got this email yesterday from a Judge customer who made his own electrical start gate:

".....Static fried my gate. I never had an issue until we put it on the metal track. Unfortunately the gym floor is plastic and every time I touched the track it would set off the start gate. I tried to install a larger filter cap on my supply but in the process damaged the flipflop."....

Perhaps a better equipment design might have saved the day, however the point remains: A big metal track on an insulated floor can build up substantial static electrical charges. These charges can be harmful to finish line electronics and computers. It is a very good idea to run a ground wire from one of the assembly screws over to the nearest electrical conduit and keep that track at zero potential.
John Shreffler
Maker of The Judge
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