Alge Timer S4  S/N 9909017

Split Timing (Prog 0) provides net timing (elapsed time of the run) with single starts and up to three competitors on the course.  All three clocks run separately during the program.  The person running the timer switches between racer A, racer B, or racer C to assure that the start or finish pulse is applied to the appropriate clock when it is received and then clears the clock as soon as the finish time has been recorded.   The clocks can be started or stopped by the external signals or by the red button. 

If the S4 is not on Prog 0 (split timing) when it is turned on, turn the unit off.  In order to select a program you press the toggle switch upwards (position program+line test) turn turning the device on.  Select the Prog 0 by pressing the yellow button.  Push both red and yellow together to accept the selected program.

Start the first start impulse starts the clock who is chosen by the toggle switch (5);  the second start impulse starts automatically the next clock;  the third start impulse start automatically the third clock.  If all three clocks are running, it is shown by blinking "." on the display.  no start is possible until the reset of one clock by pressing the read and yellow button at once and the display shows "0:00.00"

Finish if a competitor starts on clock A, he needs to receive his finish impulse on clock A (toggle switch 5 on position A-timer before he crosses the finish line).  The same is required for B competitor or C competitor, the switch has to be selected to that letter before they cross the finish. 

If you do not know on which clock the competitor started:  press and hold the yellow button down until the competitor is past the finish line.  all courses times are stored on all three clocks.  search for the logical time by toggling between the different timers.  resume timing on the other courses if necessary by pressing the yellow button on that course. 

Reset of clock  choose the clock with toggle switch (5) which you want to reset.  press at the same time the read and yellow button (6+7) .  the display shows 0:00.00,  , this clock is ready for the next start. 

Power Supply:  The S4 can operate on either 6 alkaline "C" batteries (112 hours) or from an external 12 VDC power supply.  Remove the alkaline "C" batteries if you are using an external 12 VDC battery. 

Check the condition of the batteries by pressing toggle switch (8) upwards (position/ program/line test).  It shows now in the display (1) the program number, the memory in use, the baud rate of interface "display board", "printer" and "RS 232", as well as the voltage of the batteries.  The battery conditional will display in the green area on the needle if they are above 6 volts. If they are about 6 volts, it will indicated in the green/red. 

Line Test - Checking of the Start - Finish Line checking of the 1 pair cable which is connected at banana socket A. Turn the timer S4 on. 

short-circuit-test 1) Cable is open at the start side 2) press toggle switch (8) upwards (direction "line test") 3) needle of meter must stay in the middle of the green area (otherwise short-circuit)

resistance-test  1) short the pair on the start side (press banana plug together)  2) press toggle switch upwards (direction "line test")  3) needle of meter must go the the far left side (otherwise the resistance is too high)  4) needle is at 2000 ohms about 1 mm before the left end which is the maximum line resistance. 

needle of meter swings as soon as the photocell is out of line.  Check the set-up of the photocell.  It could also be caused during a very long timing impulse or a short-cut of the cable.

Pre-adjustment of the options should not need changing.  To review settings or change values, turn the timer on and start-up until you have a time 0:00.00.   Before you start the timer, push the toggle switch (8) downwards (delay time).  changing options is now possible.  increment the choices with the yellow and red button.  The red button is for left of the decimal, yellow is for right.  when finish, save the changes by pressing both red and yellow buttons together.  Typical values are:

dF-02  finish delay time = 0.2 seconds (dead time after a finish)

dS-20 start-delay time = 1 seconds (dead time after start to prevent switch bounce)

SLP-50  duration of display on the display = 5 seconds

LZE Eln running tenth seconds are off

LF CH1-2 runing time for display board interface is on channel 1 and 2

TAU EIN  precision is 1/1000 seconds

HUn AUS precision is 1/1000 seconds

AUT Eln  display automatic is on

Pri 60.  printer speed

Lr 2  line feed two lines after print

Memory: The S4 has an internal memory that can store up to 8000 times.  It should be set to request a memory clear upon power-up by pressing the red and yellow buttons together.  If the memory becomes full, the S4 will not output any additional times to external devices.  To download times from the memory requires a computer via the RS-232C interface.  The S4 starts to transmit as soon as it receives the hexadecimal code 85.   If CLr JA does not appear after power up, the unit can be set back to request this memory clear as follows:

press toggle switch (8) to the upper position and turn on S4, then release the toggle

select the program Prog 0 with the yellow key

press toggle switch (8) to the upper position

display show "CLr nEln" (= does not clear memory on start-up)

press yellow button until display shows CLr JA (=clears memory on start-up)

press red and yellow button together to same setup and start timer.