Clay Delay Setup: Pics/Comments

If you're a vest wearer, here's how it can work: The vest is a dual-pocket sporting clay type and the ClayDelay (www.claydelay.com) is placed in an outer pocket on the zipper side, then a large clamp (from an office supply store) holds it in position. Alternatively, you can use safety pins to form a pocket boundary. You want the trap-arming buttons to be sticking out where they are quick to spot and push. The inner pocket still works without problem to store empty hulls. Of course, the next custom vest will have a purpose-sewn Clay Delay pocket!

The mic can be clipped on the vest or shirt pocket with the supplied clip, but it works as well just slipped into the pocket. That prevents the pocket corners from thread tear-out. I suggest you cut the ClayDelay's signal cable to about 12" or so and attach a female plug that does not hold the male cable plug very tightly. Then hold the extension signal cord as you move between stations. This suggestion is because if you don't hold the cable, when the cable snags, it will pull the Clay delay unit out of your pocket. Having the connection relatively loose will cause the connectors to separate before the ClayDelay gets pulled out of your pocket if you forget to hold the cable before moving.

ClayDelay offers various belt clip options if you're not a vest wearer. Unit shown is setup/optioned for International Skeet delay as well. Any ClayDelay unit will do wobble trap. For single-shooter trap only, select a model that does continuous re-arming to eliminate the need to arm the unit for each target. Unit will release a target each time you call. There are ClayDelay models that can be quickly field-programed for either as well as for the sporting clay target release sequences. See www.ClayDelay.com for all the possible options.

The "signal" to the trap is a relay contact closure. You should be aware that most trap machines present a safe, low voltage on the pull cord, but now and then, there are machines that have 110 VAC. Check with the club mechanic to know for your own safety and peace of mind before beginning installation. Better yet, measure with reliable voltmeter, checking both AC and DC values.



Another view. Note the short black cable supplied pre-attached to the unit is wirenutted and cable tied to the short extension cord (Upper left. This picture was taken before I settled on the loosish connector system described above). The tiny red pushbutton on the ClayDelay is the manual release for test without microphone or to allow you to pull for someone who wants to shoot a quick one with you.

Microphone shown is the heavy duty option model. I recommend purchasing it. ClayDelay battery life has been more than satisfactory: seems to easily run about 6 to 10 weeks of warm weather sessions. I change the 9V battery when the voltage gets down to around 8.35VDC. Always wise to carry extra batterys though... especially if you use a wireless system.



The connecting/pull cord and its quick-wind reel. Interface/pigtail cord is from a 5' extension cord. (Multiple interface cords are useful if you shoot at different clubs with different connector styles; otherwise they can be optional.) Originally, the plan was to use the twist lock club-style NEMA ML-3 "Winchester" connectors throughout (per ClayDelays recommendation) in the application, but it's turned out that the simpler, no additional cost AC plug system has worked without problems in this situation (If your club uses odd connectors that the big-box stores don't stock as this club did and has none to spare, www.drillspot.com will probably have it). Be aware that ClayDelay warns against using standard 110 AC plugs for fear that plugging the cord into dangerous/damaging 110AC is all too doable, especially when using the wireless system. They wisely recommend odd connectors to prevent this potential mishap. 

For trap, the wire length will depend on the connect point and if you want to shoot on the 27 yard line. If the connect point is immediately behind the trap house or on a near-post as shown above, the wire length may be short enough to eliminate the desire for a reely. At the above club, I use a 25' length for wobble.

Using the wireless option will allow several shooters to be on the line at once and greatly facilitates the ISSF move and shoot procedure. Note that each shooter will have to arm his ClayDelay before shooting, as talking and gunshots will false-trip an auto-arm unit, running up the target bill.

I suspect for the extra hassle dealing with the receiver unit, plus the one-more-thing-to-go-wrong aspect with the two box system, and also in considering the relative shortness of the wire needed for wobble, that a wire unit is better for one-shooter wobble. The more lengthy wire in skeet can be irksome at times, making a wireless unit desirable for skeet shooting. Sporting clay stations can be interesting because on some stations the needed cable is short, while on others, the needed cable length can be more than 25'. . .

Wind up reel shown has 100' of extension cord on it; for skeet 80' is plenty and also will allow you to back up past the 27 yard line if you like your wobble more challenging. For wobble, I use a separate, unreeled 25 foot wire to simplify things. I left the full 100' on the reel to take care of any future field cable repairs. If you're fortunate enough that your club has the wobble trap on an overlayed skeet field, the cable will also be fine for shooting "scrap": wobble trap from the skeet stations (two shots allowed, stations 1, 2, 6 and 7, 4 targets each , 3-4-5, 3 targets each to make 25 targets total). Some clubs make this a turkey shoot event.


My Purchase List:

ClayDelay of your choice (Wireless IS an option at most clubs)
Optional heavy-duty microphone
Optional heavy duty belt clip
100' extension cord (bought at Home Depot I found the extension cords sold at Home Depot        were lighter and more flexible than most, but that may change from lot to lot.)
5' extension cord (optional)
Separate connector and 25' cord for wobble trap (your needed length will be different).
Correct connector to interface to the club's—might get this from the club mechanic
Cord wind-up reel (bought at Lowe's—optional, but for 100' of wire, sure convenient!)
Extra 9V batteries

Further info on all the models and to download user manuals: www.ClayDelay.

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