pneumatic compressors?

[jake517]

Last year for our rookie season, we saw many veteran teams charging their air tanks with pneumatic compressors back in their pit areas. Perhaps, we didn't see correctly as to what teams were doing, but we would definitely like to know...

Are we allowed to use pneumatic compressors off our robot to charge our air cylinders, or is this illegal?

Thanks in advance,
~4294

[kevin.li.rit]

Last year for our rookie season, we saw many veteran teams charging their air tanks with pneumatic compressors back in their pit areas. Perhaps, we didn't see correctly as to what teams were doing, but we would definitely like to know...

Are we allowed to use pneumatic compressors off our robot to charge our air cylinders, or is this illegal?

Thanks in advance,
~4294

This is legal provided you control the compressor with the robot CRIO and properly wired spike.

[jake517]

So, does that mean we can use an additional compressor to the compressor that is on the robot?

[Kevin Sevcik]

It's legal provided you're using only one of the exact same compressor that you'd be using on your robot. And you have to wire it up with a pressure switch, to be controlled by the cRIO. Basically, your off-board compressor has to be exactly the same as the on-board one, except you detach it from the robot and don't run with it during a match.

If you saw anyone charging their robot with a shop air compressor, you should let them know that's not legal and help them rig up an FRC legal air compressor.

[Kevin Sevcik]

So, does that mean we can use an additional compressor to the compressor that is on the robot?No.Compressed air on the ROBOT must be provided by one and only one compressor. Compressor specifications may not exceed nominal 12VDC, 1.05 cfm flow rate. Off-board compressors must be controlled and powered by the ROBOT.I suppose you could use an off-board compressor instead of your on-board compressor. Provided your onboard compressor is disconnected and disabled and the off-board one was poweredand controlled like your now disabled onboard compressor. Except what would be the point at that point?

[rsisk]

Interesting couple of threads going discussing the same topic.

Over in the other thread, Al S. emphasized that fact that ONLY ONE compressor can be used. You cannot have one on-board and one not on-board at the same time.


http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1225954&postcount=9

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Thank you. That is correct. Please also review the rules that reference inspections in Sections 3, 4, and 5.