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View Full Version : WARNING: check polarity

racesick222
13-01-2013, 17:36
Check polarity on main Anderson leads.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/64526_401218699964547_1223784922_n.jpg
Saberbot
13-01-2013, 17:41
Was this from the kit of parts?
jbsmithtx
13-01-2013, 18:24
Uh oh... Such a simple problem can lead to devastating results.....
racesick222
13-01-2013, 18:40
Was this from the kit of parts?

Yes.
We had it wired into our power distribution board, but found out and nothing got damaged.
Ether
13-01-2013, 19:21
Check polarity on main Anderson leads.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/64526_401218699964547_1223784922_n.jpg


Was this from the kit of parts?

Yes.

Is there a way to make sure this warning gets out to all the teams?
ebarker
13-01-2013, 19:23
Notify FIRST asap. There is a team blast coming out in a couple of days.
Ether
13-01-2013, 19:27
Notify FIRST asap.

How does one "notify FIRST".

Is there a process in place for this?
jtdowney
13-01-2013, 19:35
How does one "notify FIRST".

Is there a process in place for this?




Email frcteams@usfirst.org (mailto:frcteams@usfirst.org) per the contact page (http://www.usfirst.org/contactform) on the FIRST website.
ebarker
13-01-2013, 19:43
FIRST has been notified and are aware of this discovery.....

All done.
team222badbrad
13-01-2013, 19:50
We had this all wired up to our Power Distribution Board. Once we plugged this in we heard lots of clicking and quickly unplugged the battery. Luckily our PDB, two Talons, and my RC equipment went undamaged.

Since we only had minimal electronics installed we were quickly able to diagnose the issue and continue testing our drivetrain. :yikes:

Magic Smoke averted...
MentorPrice
13-01-2013, 20:01
Wow I got to check ours now then haha
Bill_B
13-01-2013, 23:50
Everyone should check their KoP components. This should be relatively easy to fix when discovered. Switching the contacts in this connector is pretty simple. I'll make pictures about it upon request. We put one on the new battery and I'm chagrined to realize I didn't check it - - - - yet. The battery beak worked though, so maybe we skated on this one.
Saberbot
14-01-2013, 00:00
Everyone should check their KoP components. This should be relatively easy to fix when discovered. Switching the contacts in this connector is pretty simple. I'll make pictures about it upon request. We put one on the new battery and I'm chagrined to realize I didn't check it - - - - yet. The battery beak worked though, so maybe we skated on this one.

From what I remember, the KOP battery cables have an extra crimp in the plastic that makes it more difficult to remove the contacts. I'm afraid that FIRST night have to send out replacements.
Al Skierkiewicz
14-01-2013, 08:28
First KOP engineers are being notified now.
Toa Circuit
14-01-2013, 11:56
Are we going to get replacements of these, or is there a way to swap out and modify the plugs?
Mark McLeod
14-01-2013, 12:01
Are we going to get replacements of these, or is there a way to swap out and modify the plugs?
The cables can be reversed pretty easily.
The connector attached to the wire slides over a flat spring in the housing to latch securely. You just need to depress the spring from the front of the housing and lightly pull out the cable. Reinsert just by pushing it back into the housing.
Avoid scratching the top of the connector, so the contact surface isn't degraded any.

You can see the flat springs in the cutaway below and the little lip at the tip of the connector that fits over the end of the flat spring to hold it securely in place.
Toa Circuit
15-01-2013, 23:10
The cables can be reversed pretty easily.
The connector attached to the wire slides over a flat spring in the housing to latch securely. You just need to depress the spring from the front of the housing and lightly pull out the cable. Reinsert just by pushing it back into the housing.
Avoid scratching the top of the connector, so the contact surface isn't degraded any.

You can see the flat springs in the cutaway below and the little lip at the tip of the connector that fits over the end of the flat spring to hold it securely in place.

Alright, sweet. Actually, we didnt need to though- the plugs we got were of the proper polarity.
Al Skierkiewicz
16-01-2013, 08:18
Just to check, have a lot of teams found these or is this a rare event at this point? None of ours were incorrect.
CalTran
16-01-2013, 08:31
Just to check, have a lot of teams found these or is this a rare event at this point? None of ours were incorrect.

Ours were correct.
FrankJ
16-01-2013, 08:37
Ours were correct as well.

A good lesson learned is always check these kinds a things, even when they come from a reputable vendor.
MrForbes
16-01-2013, 08:37
It's probably a rare event, but still worthy of significant attention (I saw two emails and a CD post and was reminded again last night by a teacher who saw an email about it).

Ours were assembled correctly.
Phyrxes
16-01-2013, 08:41
All of the ones received by both 2068 and 4472 were correctly assembled.
JohnBoucher
16-01-2013, 08:41
Our's were OK
flameout
16-01-2013, 11:58
957's were assembled correctly.

Thank you to FIRST for the quick notification.
cgmv123
16-01-2013, 17:26
Our's were correct as well.
Joe Ross
17-01-2013, 14:02
330's were assembled correctly.
MagiChau
17-01-2013, 14:05
85’s are correct.
msaunders
17-01-2013, 14:07
862's were correct.
team222badbrad
17-01-2013, 14:16
It appears that this must have been a rare instance and that we got the first off the line on Monday morning or last off the line Friday Afternoon connector.

Luckily no harm was done. (That we know of yet...) Just lots of clicking from the 40 amp fuses. :-)
Allison
17-01-2013, 14:32
One of the three we received was assembled backwards.

Thank you for bringing it to everyone's attention.

Allison