Sensors?

Does anybody know where I could buy the bluish-green sensors seen on B&M and Intamin coasters? And also, is it possible to rig a sensor so that I could mount it on my door frame and it would turn like my light on when I enter? I think that'd be pretty nifty.

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SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource
Devoted Intamin Lover for Life!

You most likely won't find the same type of sensor, but you could find something that'll do the same basic thing at Radio Shack... they sell everything!

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- John
I got a B&M T-shirt!

Yea, but I want a bluish-green one for the total experience!

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SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource
Devoted Intamin Lover for Life!

LOL. Spray paint? Seriously, for just goofing around the industrial quality sensors on coasters would be way too expensive. I'm not sure how much they cost but I'm willing to bet it's bigger than my paycheck (Which is often 2 digits).

the sensors on our robots at work are exactly the same as the ones you are talking about. And you do not want to know how much one costs. We're talking about 50 bucks.

Spray paint a cheap one and you'll be out 5. And it will do your job fine.

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Yes Virginia, I am Santa Claus!
I AM WITTY!

I think you'd be wiser to invest in the Clapper rather than a proximity switch ;)

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Get sound sensors so you can clap and the lights turn on! ;) Of course, when you listen to music or talk on the phone, the lights will turn on and off and on and off. :) LOL!

Yah, I think it's a better idea to pay $2 for spray paint and $3 for the sensor than $50 for the real thing. :) But whatever floats your boat. ;)

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Säubern Sie mit Milch?

Yeah, those proximity limits are expensive and the only use you'll get out of it is a paperweight. Sometimes they go bad and the parks junk 'em. Write some 'enthusiast friendly' parks and see what you can find (write to their PR person, not maintenance).

BTW they are used on virtually every type and make of coaster.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

If you have any electrical knowledge it is very much possible to rig up 2 photo eyes facing each other (since they rely on each other). At my school we have that set up in a room so when you enter it buzzes. Im sure you could do the same just as easily with a light. If not get a motion sensor and paint it what ever color you want.

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ξ μ σ
So you believe that you are studying us, then kindly explain why you are the ones trapped in your seats.

Why even get a clapper when you can just throw a "lightswitch rave?" Bump some techno and flick the switch over and over. (Note the Strong Bad allusion)

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- John
I got a B&M T-shirt!

Awwww...you guys are depressing. Ruining all my fun. ;)

I guess I'll just have to go with a cheap sensor or none at all. Hey! I could have it so when my door swings past it, it turns off the light. :) I'll see what I do...

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SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource
Devoted Intamin Lover for Life!

Just be careful you don't end up having a block violation and then have to go and reset all of your lights manually :)

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My K'Nex Coasters

Coming to Wyandot Lake in 2003: Hi-Striker's Revenge

Well, talking from experience with a robotics club (anyone ever heard of the FIRST robotics league? GO TEAM 554!) those sensors can be very expensive. I know our robot alone last year cost about 50,000 bucks

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SOB crew in twenty 02
111 SOB laps, and wishing the park was still open

SOB_TOM: yes i have heard of FIRST, ever heard of team #144, team name who, robot name what

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ξ μ σ
So you believe that you are studying us, then kindly explain why you are the ones trapped in your seats.

A lot of the proximity switches used on coasters and other rides are made by Pepperl and Fuchs. Their website is http://www.pepperl-fuchs.com

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Face/Off Crew '99-'00, Top Gun Sup '00, King Cobra/Days of Thunder Sup '01
Beast Sup '02
Wild Thornberry's River Adventure Sup '02

A thing about clappers-don't invest in them if you have a tendencey toward flatulence. Otherwise you may let one rip in the middle of the night and all the lights in your room will turn on and wake you up.

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"Standing in line to see the show tonight and there's a light on, heavy glow, by the way I tried to say I'd be there."-The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Whoa there.. SFNE Freak, do you mean proximity limits or photo cells? Totally different things...

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Mustang, if that's from personal experience, then you should leave that one to yourself.

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J.
Rap on a table, it's time to respond, send us a message from somewhere beyond.

Well, if I have the sensor sense the door than I would have it be a proximity like the ones on coasters. If I had it sense me walking in and out I'd have it be a photo cell sensor. Now I wanna have it sense the door. Is there any way to do this without having to by a controller or programmer or whatever?

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The sensors on most coasters (Arrows, Vekomas, Intamins, B&M's, GCI's) are usually Pepperl+Fuchs NJ-50 series sensors. If you think you're getting one for 50 bucks, you got another thing coming. Try about $300-$500 depending on sensing range.

You could buy them from industrial electrical distributors, there ought to be a few in your phone book. They'll be a special order item unless you chance across a place that deals with a lot of parks and happens to keep some in stock.

To have one turn on a light when you open your door is simple. They work off of magnetics, so all you'd need is a piece of metal to break contact with the sensor when the door opened. Make sure you get the right voltage... most rides use a 24v control system, but you'd need household (120v) voltage. Two wires in, with one control wire wired to the NC position (and your common) going out to the light.

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If you could just see the beauty... these things I could never describe. Pleasures and wayward distraction; is this my wonderful prize? --Joy Division