View Full Version : Charging station for the stands
hardcopi
09-10-2014, 09:35
I am not a hardware guy but are there any plans out there to turn old robot batteries into a usb charging station for use in the stands?
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0626.htm
The other option is to get one of the multiple cigarette lighter socket adapters wire that in and use one of the many cigarette lighter to USB adapters that are available on the market. You can usually pickup a 3 socket unit for $10 or so at an auto parts store or WalMart. There are even some that have a couple of USB outlets integrated.
You will find that the batteries used for the robot do not have a AMP/HR rating high enough to be effective for that purpose, unless you have...A LOT. I'm talking more than 20.
One FRC battery can charge 8 or 9 smartphones (average ~2000mAh or 2Ah), assuming you don't lose a substantial amount of energy in the charging process. (Which is probably a foolish assumption.)
JohnFogarty
09-10-2014, 13:27
Ahh, I misread the initial post. I don't know why I thought this was for charging laptops. Depending on the number of outputs, robot batteries would be sufficient then.
protoserge
09-10-2014, 13:31
Done it several times. Robot battery + fused car 12VDC adapter + USB chargers or a battery + inverter + power strip + wall chargers.
Phones will charge all day. Laptop might get 2 or three charges out of it, depending on the laptop charge state and power consumption.
Mike Marandola
09-10-2014, 18:17
We use a 750 watt inverter for our scouting power setup. Everything has Anderson connectors so we can use a robot battery in an "emergency".
http://i.imgur.com/E1FHTke.jpg
Now that I have a little more time here are a few of the many options.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281399158226?lpid=82
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/361070603224?lpid=82
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3889593&utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=pla&utm_term=2700050&cid=iP:PLA:RSO:Google&gclid=CIDkuefboMECFZGYfgody4YAUA&gclsrc=ds
Just cut off the existing plug or use the hard wire connector in the case of the one at Radio Shack and wire it to an Anderson connector and you are good to go.
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0626.htm
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Um....No that is not what they are trying to do.
Even if that is what was desired, as much as I love AM and Andy I have a hard time paying for them to pay someone to cut off a cigarette lighter plug, install a Anderson connector and they pay to ship it across the country when you can pick up a similar inverter at many local stores.
Um....No that is not what they are trying to do.
Even if that is what was desired, as much as I love AM and Andy I have a hard time paying for them to pay someone to cut off a cigarette lighter plug, install a Anderson connector and they pay to ship it across the country when you can pick up a similar inverter at many local stores.
Just add one of these (http://www.atguys.com/store/images/usb_ac.jpg) and bingo, he's in business.
True, but it does answer his question of creating a USB charging station out of old robot batteries. Now he knows what to buy (at wherever they like) (or do it themselves), if they wish to. However, since the OP said that he is not a hardware guy, I'm assuming that he would prefer buying a solution rather than learning how to do it himself. Though you do know what happens when you assume... :rolleyes:
Just add one of these (http://www.atguys.com/store/images/usb_ac.jpg) and bingo, he's in business.
True, but it does answer his question of creating a USB charging station out of old robot batteries. Now he knows what to buy (at wherever they like) (or do it themselves), if they wish to. However, since the OP said that he is not a hardware guy, I'm assuming that he would prefer buying a solution rather than learning how to do it himself. Though you do know what happens when you assume... :rolleyes:
But this device http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/361070603224?lpid=82 that I posted earlier, provides the solution in a single, smaller, cheaper device.
billbo911
10-10-2014, 09:52
All of these options will work.
It never hurts to have an inverter (http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0626.htm) available for those times that you need AC, like at the Driver's Station and no AC is provided for those aging Classmate PC's that are still hanging around.
Now, the EE in me must speak up here.
Doing a double conversion using an inverter and then a wall wort is not the most efficient way to go. If you are already using batteries deemed unworthy to drive your robot, you will not want to waste what little energy you can get out of them by inefficiently converting it to +5vdc. Using something like Mr V linked to is a much smaller and more efficient way to go.
But this device http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/361070603224?lpid=82 that I posted earlier, provides the solution in a single, smaller, cheaper device.
Chadfrom308
10-10-2014, 10:49
You could make it a project for some of the kids who don't always have their hands on the robot
You could make an enclosure and order some USB ports and hook them up with either a spare DC/DC converter or a BEC from hobbyking (although they normally give out anywhere from 4.9-5.4 volts (I think 5.25 is the max a phone can handle )) or you can use a buck converter like this one http://www.pololu.com/product/2866
Thats 5v @ 9a and I hear it's pretty true to 5v. That's the option I would take because 9a can charge 4-9 phones. It's pretty efficient too (80-95%).
For the USB ports, if you do make an enclosure (out of water/laser jetted aluminum) you could add these cool USB ports that are overly tough but look cool http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-211300-30.html
I am using this on a charging rig for my LiPo batteries to charge my phone
Anyways, that's a cool project if you have the resources and time
hardcopi
10-10-2014, 11:56
That gives me what I need. We have a lot of kids and sometimes it is difficult to keep them occupied and since no one wants to do busy work. We have a lot of batteries that are going to waste right now.
Last year during events everyone's batteries died (usually thanks mainly to refreshing frc spyder). This way we can have a portable charging station. If the batteries die they can be taken to the pits to recharge.
Now if I can just get them to build into the recharging station a little fridge and keurig for me then I will be very happy. :D
You just need a 5V DC voltage regulator that will take a 12V input. Most car chargers do exactly this.
AdamHeard
12-10-2014, 17:44
We keep it all DC as well.
you can get fairly inexpensive 12V chargers for most laptops, and you obviously can get 12V based usb outlets.
We charger several laptops and many USB based devices w/ no inverter.
Al Skierkiewicz
13-10-2014, 07:32
Mike,
Insulate the terminals on top of the battery shown in your picture above. Any metal dropped into your case is a hazard.
Mike Marandola
13-10-2014, 09:17
Mike,
Insulate the terminals on top of the battery shown in your picture above. Any metal dropped into your case is a hazard.
Thank you Al. We will make sure to do that at our next meeting.
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