How to Equip Amusement Rides with the Right Sensors

The best types of sensors in an amusement park are the ones you don’t think about until maintenance time. Find the most reliable products and they will save you money and headaches all year long.

Evaluate each amusement ride individually. What type of sensing solution is currently in place? How well does it work? If it is possible to replace contact switches, otherwise known as limit switches, with a non-contact solution, it will greatly improve the uptime for that ride. Contact switches with moving parts wear out quickly, whereas non-contact sensors only need to be replaced in the event that they are destroyed by collision, Mother Nature, or extremely rough handling. Consult with a manufacturer or distributor of industrial sensors and ask them for assistance with your application. Any sensor company who is interested in doing business with you should be able to support the products and answer your questions.

If a new sensor is what you desire, the next decision is which type of sensing technology to implement. There are many sensors to choose from, but in the amusement industry, the top picks are infrared photoelectric sensors and inductive proximity sensors. A transmitter photo eye projects an infrared beam of light, which is invisible to the naked human eye. A receiver photo eye reports when it sees the beam and when it doesn’t and will pass a signal to the appropriate controller. Rides that require objects to be detected from a distance or in harsh conditions, like log flume rides, river rapids, and dark, smoky theme rides are great places for photoelectric sensors.

Try an inductive proximity sensor in areas where metal objects must be detected at close range. These sensors will only detect metal and their sensing distance is limited, but they are extremely tough and can take a beating. Rides like roller coasters, where the sensor may be mounted on the track and detect the metal in the train are good applications for inductive proximity sensors. Inductive proximity sensors are excellent replacements for limit switches.

Develop a routine maintenance schedule and replace all sensors in the amusement park at least once a year. This will ensure proper function and will keep the rides operating at their peak performance. Visitors will appreciate the ride availability and you will notice improved uptime and fewer replacements throughout the year.

Supplier of Industrial Photoelectric Sensors

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How to Get into Carowinds at a Reduced Rate or for Free

Carowinds theme park, which resides on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, is a great source of family entertainment including rides and attractions for the entire family. Enjoy all the thrills and adventure at a fraction or the cost or even for free.

Believe it or not, you may know someone or even know a friend of a friend who works for Carowinds theme park. It never hurts to ask around. Employees of the park are given free admission tickets and they are allowed to give them out at their discretion. Often just asking someone for a ticket or two will gain you free access to the park or you could do something nice for that person and still get in for almost nothing. Also, many companies are corporate partners with Carowinds and offer their employees discounts using a special company code that may be entered on the Carowinds website. You may know someone who works for one of these partners and not even realize it.

Check the Carowinds website for discounted rates. Often, they will have a special that rewards you with a discount just for purchasing tickets online. If you can find a group of fifteen to forty-nine people to go together, you will enjoy a group discount. An even better discount is available for groups of fifty or more. If you are a senior citizen of sixty-two years or older, then you are in luck because they offer a great discount for you too. If you will be visiting the park for two consecutive days in a row, save your original ticket and use it to purchase a "next day ticket" as you leave the park. The price for these tickets is less than half of what you paid for the first. If you have plans for earlier in the day, but you want to ride some roller coasters at night, wait until after 4:00 pm and the price of admission is about half.

Quite often, Carowinds vendors will offer discount coupons for admission to the park. Coco Cola frequently offers discount coupons which are printed right on the side of the drink cans. Check the supermarkets in the cities close to Carowinds, like Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina and also Rock Hill, South Carolina for these special cans.

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