Steampunk wiring - wiring color

[FRCTeam2906]

Considering the theme for this year's FRC game, Steampunk, we were wondering if we could use a copper colored wire for our positive wiring(+)?
As seen here:https://www.platt.com/platt-electric-supply/XHHW-Stranded-12-AWG/Multiple/12XHHWCSTRBROX500/product.aspx?zpid=62861

I am aware that, robot rule R51, from the game last year, states that you may use: "Red, yellow, white, brown, or black-with-stripe on the positive connections."
Is this possible or should we go with plain brown wire?
Or should we stick to regular black and red to keep our wiring typical?

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated,
FRC Team 2906: Sentinel Prime Robotics
Spanaway Lake High School, Tacoma, WA

[MrRoboSteve]

I don't like to tempt the gods of inspection on items like this.

That said, there is gold and black wire sheath available.

[FRCTeam2906]

Correction, Tan wire: Tan wire-Platt (https://www.platt.com/platt-electric-supply/THHN-Stranded-12-AWG/Multiple/12THHNCSTRTANX2500/product.aspx?zpid=62645)

[EricH]

I would shy away from copper-colored wire. The last thing you need is an inspector telling you to "rewire your robot, and use insulation this time". Brown or yellow, though, I don't think you'd run into that problem.

[Sperkowsky]

You could always sleeve your wires with paracord.

[Fusion_Clint]

I don't like to tempt the gods of inspection on items like this.


+1

Get creative in an area that does not require an inspector to make a judgement call.

[FRCTeam2906]

Ok, thank you we just wanted a second opinion. We will look into cable sleeving instead.

[Foster]

Ok, thank you we just wanted a second opinion. We will look into cable sleeving instead.

Insulated pipe with copper or brass paint would look like real steam pipes, but may be too much effort.

[IKE]

I will bring this up during LRI inspector training. I suspect we may see creative painting/covering/aging of a lot of items this year.

[arichman1257]

I'd recommend sticking with the typical red and black wiring. It will be easier for the inspector to look over or for a CSA to assist you with if a problem was to arise. As someone who has helped teams with their wiring during competition (even occasionally in queue) it is much easier when the wiring is easy to sort through. And a big part of that is the fact that it is standard. It would be really cool, but I think that it would be better to avoid it in the long run.

[Joe Ross]

In 2012, it was ruled that painted wire didn't change its color. Logically, then, a copper color painted wire should be fine. *

FRC3335 on 2012-01-20 | 4 Followers
Q201 Q. With respect to R45, would it be acceptable to use black wire for the +24, +12 or +5 Vdc connections that: 1) is wrapped over it's whole length with red, white or brown electrical tape 2) is wrapped with red, white or brown electrical tape at each end 3) has a white stripe painted along it's length
A. No.

*Not all inspectors may agree with this impeccable logic, which is why it should be a q/a question.

[IndySam]

Brown/blue are standard colors for wiring and could better looking than red/black if you are going that deep into a steampunk theme.

It is fully within past years rules.

I have seen teams use both schemes in robot wiring to denote different types of DC circuits.

[MrRoboSteve]

In 2012, it was ruled that painted wire didn't change its color. Logically, then, a copper color painted wire should be fine. *



*Not all inspectors may agree with this impeccable logic, which is why it should be a q/a question.

I'm imagining bringing that q&a to the pit and arguing with Al about the definition of a stripe.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Argue????? Me???
I cannot speak to 2017 rules other than to remind everyone that the wire color codes have changed very little in decades. The colors are chosen from the NEC and other worldwide standards for low voltage DC wiring.
To go a step further, to be "steam punk", electrics would need to be powered from a steam turbine operated dynamo but electric wiring would still be required to follow all rules as they would apply. As to the steam powered dynamo, I would look carefully at whatever rules would replace or supplement 2016 rules R1, R31, R35, R36, R38, and the entire pneumatic section.
Just saying...

[Ed Sparks]

Please don't make an already difficult job unbearable ........ Color coding is there for a reason and you shouldn't poke bears with a sharp stick.
:cool:

[tr6scott]

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109855

FIRST and the inspectors, are pretty set on the rules.

A couple of years ago, we wired our dc motor power with black wire with yellow tracers, and the inspectors at Waterford made us cover the yellow tracer with black tape during inspection.

I work in industrial controls, we are panel build shop, and I have access to a bunch of wire, that is donated to the team, so I like to use tracer colors to segregate function and amperage loads, but after that, we stick with red and black.

Don't poke the bear.

[Team34Guy]

Please don't make an already difficult job unbearable ........ Color coding is there for a reason and you shouldn't poke bears with a sharp stick.
:cool:

I wondered when you would weigh in on this.

After our own wiring snafu last season... I, for one, am not going to risk poking bears with sticks this year

[tjf]

As said by others, it's probably best to not poke the bear. Sleeving would likely be your safest bet.

However, it's an odd thing to note that FRC doesn't always follow standards to the letter. Battery connectors (Anderson SB50s) are traditionally red for 24V and yellow for 12V. FRC teams use red on everything (on every robot I've ever seen, with the exception of grey for pneumatics.)

[Foster]

However, it's an odd thing to note that FRC doesn't always follow standards to the letter. Battery connectors (Anderson SB50s) are traditionally red for 24V and yellow for 12V. FRC teams use red on everything (on every robot I've ever seen, with the exception of grey for pneumatics.)

I didn't know there is a "standard", thanks.

Yellow - 12v
Orange - 18v
Red - 24v
Gray - 36v
Blue - 48v
Green - 72v
Black - 80v
Brown - 96v
Purple - 120v
White - 144v

[Logan Byers]

I didn't know there is a "standard", thanks.

Yellow - 12v
Orange - 18v
Red - 24v
Gray - 36v
Blue - 48v
Green - 72v
Black - 80v
Brown - 96v
Purple - 120v
White - 144v

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

As for following standards:
https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/standards.png

[Billfred]

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

No rule, but SB-50 connectors are keyed by color. So a purple one wouldn't fit a red one. (Pink is an exception, presumably so donated connectors are obvious.)

[GeeTwo]

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

The SB50 data sheet (http://www.andersonpower.com/_global-assets/downloads/pdf/ds-sb50.pdf) notes that black and grey housings have matching keys; other colors will not cross mate. If you use anything other than red (or pink, which is a special connector with the same keying as red) they will not mate with batteries or connectors of other teams, or standard chargers. They are not illegal as far as I have read, but I would strongly discourage using anything but red or pink SB50s.

[snorthey]

What if you spray painted a wiring wrap... not the wiring... like the cord keeper... and other devices like the zip ties...

[GeeTwo]

What if you spray painted a wiring wrap... not the wiring... like the cord keeper... and other devices like the zip ties...

Sorry, but not at all secific enough. Why, and what colors would you spray over other colors?

And then, remember the whole point of color coding - so that people KNOW what voltage/polarity/signal the wire is carrying. If your spray paint obscures or miselads people as to what is going on, my advice is DON'T DO IT, even if it is legal under the letter of the game manual.

[IKE]

Sorry, but not at all secific enough. Why, and what colors would you spray over other colors?

And then, remember the whole point of color coding - so that people KNOW what voltage/polarity/signal the wire is carrying. If your spray paint obscures or miselads people as to what is going on, my advice is DON'T DO IT, even if it is legal under the letter of the game manual.

This might be going a bit too cautious. Any color of loom applied makes it difficult to do a wire trace, but have not generally been illegal. Often those get kudos for such a neat wiring job. I suspect that loom/wrap will continue to not be illegal.

A couple of words of caution:
If you paint the loom, make sure you find a flexible enough paint. Otherwise it will tend to chip and flake. I have seen this a lot on harnesses outside of robotics. While it looks cool initially, the flaking of paint can make it look trashy later on.

Use wire labels or indicators to help trace your wires if you are using wiring loom. This can also help if you make a wiring diagram which will get you browny points towards things like Quality award.

[pmangels17]

Before you go through all sorts of fun coloring and sheathing (which can be perfectly acceptable and often really nice looking), make sure to ask yourself:

Are the aesthetic changes I am about to make going to impact the functional performance or maintainability of the robot?

All the strange colored wires might be fun and all, and the paint could be wonderful, but I'm willing to wager a corndog that there are reasons other than the rules themselves that the Cheesy Poofs paint everything on their robot except the wires. (And electronics, etc)