OVERVIEW OF GUN FUNCTION

Individual gun functionality are detailed on their own pages.

Switch on: the ammo low & ammo out LEDs flash sequentially as the gun initialises, then extinguish. The gun is now ready for action.

Non ISD boards (Pistol & Rifle/SMG): Select auto fire or single shot (not pistol). Pull trigger, the gun fires tag, muzzle flash & gun firing sfx (from user-supplied off-board circuit).

When 5 shots remain in the magazine, the ammo low LED comes on, when the magazine is empty, the ammo out LED comes on. The gun is disabled until it has been reloaded.

On pressing the reload button, the ammo out LED stays on & the ammo low LED flashes, indicating reload in progress, then both extinguish, the gun is ready to go again.

The reload cycle can be started at any time by pressing the reload button.

(Note that Non-ISD boards can be built using Veroboard)

ISD boards (Rifle/SMG & Assault Rifle): Select auto fire or single shot. Pull trigger, the gun fires tag, muzzle flash & gun firing sfx.

When 5 shots remain in the magazine, the ammo low LED comes on, when the magazine is empty, the ammo out LED comes on.

If trigger pulled when the magazine is empty, the out of ammo sfx is heard.

On pressing the reload button, the ammo out LED stays on & the ammo low LED flashes, indicating reload in progress, then both extinguish, the gun is ready to go again. During the reload cycle, the magazine change sfx is played.

The magazine can be changed at any time by pressing the reload button.

The assault rifle also has a grenade launcher. You can load one round at a time by pressing the load button, the reload LED flashes & the load sfx is played. The grenade round can then be fired by pressing the appropriate button, the grenade firing sfx is played.

When the magazine is being changed or the grenade loaded, the gun will not fire.

ISD Shotgun board: Switch on, the magazine full & ammo low & ammo out LEDs flash sequentially, then the gun is ready to go.

Initially you have a full magazine, holding 8 shells, the magazine full LED is lit.

Obviously it only has single shot, pull trigger, the gun fires tag, muzzle flash & gun firing sfx.

If you pull the trigger again, you get ammo out sfx, to fire again you have to pump another shell into the breech. The load sfx plays & the magazine full LED goes out.

The fire/pump can be repeated up to 8 times. When 5 shells remain in the magazine, the ammo low LED is lit, when the magazine is empty, the ammo out LED is lit.

You reload the magazine one shell at a time, up to a maximum of 8 shells. A shell can be loaded at any time (with appropriate sfx) as long as the magazine isn't full.

The various reload / load / fire buttons can be micro-switches activated by cocking handles etc on the gun to make things look a little more realistic.

Circuit schematics etc. are on the individual gun pages and can be downloaded.

Details on basic gun construction and circuit details of a very good crystal based gun circuit can be found in the "DIY construction guide & FAQ" section of Dave Bodger’s web site at http://www.compulink.co.uk/~lasertag/lasertag.htm or http://www.cix.co.uk/~lasertag/

Infra Red Light Emitting Diodes (IR LED's)

By Simon

There are two Infra-Red LEDs that I use in our guns. Both emit in the 880nm range.

The first is the Hero Electronics OD50L.

This is an 8mm LED, gold plated, with a built in lens. It is rated at 250mA continuous & a staggering 10A in pulse mode.

Unlensed it has a range of about 50m, but with a well focused lensing system, it is capable of very long ranges.

Dave Bodger's hand held cannon has never been range tested, because we have never found a line of sight long enough, it is known to have a range of at least 600m. Using a 40mm lens from a pair of 8 x 40 binoculars, a range in excess of 300m is possible.

Be aware that this LED is expensive, being in excess of £20.

Pin out: The cathode is the two insulated legs, which must be connected together, the anode is the leg connected to the case.

The other choice of LED is the Siemens SFH484 "lilac".

This is a 5mm LED with 100mA continuous, 2A pulse capability.

Unlensed it has a range of about 20m, but with a decent lensing system, ranges In excess of 200m can be obtained.

As it costs less than £1, this is the choice for most tag guns.

Pin out: Treat it as the anode is the short leg, the cathode is the long leg (ie opposite to a normal LED.  

The OD50L is available from Hero Electronics & RS.

The lilac is available from Farnell, amongst others.

We usually have both available for purchase.

LED resistors with our boards:

If using a 7V2 nicad race pack (or similar), I use a 0R6 0W6 resistor (1R2//1R2) for the OD50L & a 2R2 0W6 resistor for the lilac.

If using a 6V alkaline battery pack (4 x AA, C, D cells), I use a 0R5 resistor (1R0//1R0) for the lilac LED (it's not worth using an OD50L with alkaline batteries).

For the muzzle flash LED, I use an ultra high brightness 5mm or 10mm LED(s),

<10cd brightness variants are available, which are as powerful as a small torch!

I use a 47R series resistor for these.  

I would always recommend nicad batteries to power gun boards, they may cost a little more to start with, but pay for themselves many times over with use.

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