Broken Chrony

[daberno123]

Yeah thats right, I did it, I broke my chrony. I was shooting pellets over it and one of them managed to hit the "divider" in the middle, leaving a dent and severing the middle of the three wires connecting the sensors.

At first I just cursed my bad luck, thinking I could repair the wire and everything would be fine. I tried stripping the wire and wrapping the ends around another piece of wire to reconnect them, but when I resumed shooting it still doesn't work.

I keep getting either "ERR 1" or "ERR 2" messages after I shoot. I looked these up in the manual and they mean that either the first sensor didn't detect the pellet or the second one didn't.

Any help would be appreciated, because I'm not really good with electronics, and I really don't want to buy a new chrony.

Here are some pics



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[brogdenlaxmiddie]

I'd say your in deep crap, especially if the wires went to very small sensors..... Call up the manufacturer and see what they suggest. Be sure to tell them how much you loved their product and you used it on a regular basis. However, don't push it. Also, try to get some one there to be your "friend". People are much more helpful when they like you and just don't have an operator/client persona going on.

EDIT- 300 posts :wav:

[daberno123]

Well the sensors aren't very small, they're the black boxes on either ends, but the wires themselves are extremely thin.

I was looking on the companies website http://www.shootingchrony.com and they have this thing where you can trade in your old chrony (even if its broken) and you get a discount on all the chronys they offer. So I could get a replacement for my current model for 20 bucks less than what they retail for or I could get a better model cheaper.

Still if anyone has any more ideas on fixing it, please tell me!! I really want to get some data on my new gun before I post it.

[brogdenlaxmiddie]

Try bringing it to a local radioshack or hungates. Theres someone there who can usually fix this stuff. Thats where I got my RC car fixed.

[Gippeto]

Don't know much about these. (Mine is still in the mail.)

Did you solder those wires together?

A poor connection could cause a change in resistance resulting in an error?

Can you see the connections at both ends of the wire? Might be worth a try to replace the wires.

[daberno123]

@Gippeto

I didn't solder the wires together, the pellet took a piece of tthe wire with it, so they don't touch anymore.

Instead I stripped each end of the broken wire, wrapped it around a metal wire (might be a paperclip, I just found it in my basement), and electrical taped it back together.

Not sure what a change of voltage would do, I'm not really an electronics guy, as you can probably tell from my paperclip repair job

[Gippeto]

Yes, you mentioned that in the original post.

Just a thought, but aren't paper clips painted or clear coated? I don't recall ever seeing a rusty one.

Could you replace the paper clip with a proper piece of wire?

Or failing that, at least give the paper clip a bit of a sanding to clean the surface.

It is also possible that one of the other wires is broken inside the insulation.

[daberno123]

I'll look around and see if I can find some proper wire to replace the paper clip. If I can't I'll see if sanding the paperclip helps at all. I'll also inspect the other wires to make sure there isn't a break in one of them.

Since I don't have a soldering iron, what is a better way to connect the wires, because electrical tape just doesn't seem to cut it?

[Killjoy]

Sound's like you just have a bad electrical connection.
The best would be to solder them, and you can do that with a blow torch and some solder.
Also,
Get some better wire and twist the ends together as best you can.

Get those little clamp like connectors that you crush each end with a wire in it with a pair of pliers. I can't thin of the name but those provide good connections.

Gippeto also as a good point that the wire have become broken within the insulation, though this is very unlikely.

[Gippeto]

Butt splice crimp connectors?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=family

[Killjoy]

Thank you! I was banging my head on the desk trying to remember.

[daberno123]

Alright I eliminated the paperclip completely and was able to twist the wires together and electrical taped it. I also checked the other two wires and confirmed there were no breaks.

Right now its being pretty crazy. It was spitting out random velocities and error messages while just sitting on the counter. I think it had something to do with the poor lighting because when I moved it under a lamp they stopped.

Tommorow I'll take it outside into proper light to see if it works.

If that fails it looks like I'm making a trip to Radio Shack to pick up some butt splice crimp connectors.

Edit: Here's a pic of the new connection

[daberno123]

YAY!!!

I took the chrony out today and and it worked perfectly.

I might carve out a channel in the center in order to protect the wires from further errant pellets.

I am so happy, I am so happy this is the best day of my liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife!!!

Go to 0:55 to see what I mean