Wiring Compressor

[DakotaFox]

We are trying to get the compressor running and controlled by the pressure switche.

There are no Programming Guru's here so we are very leery of trying to program the controller.

Does anybody know if it is acceptable (read legal) to do the following?

1) Wire a jumper to a 15 pin connector, attach it to the #3 joystick input so it drives the white wire of relay 5 output high.

2) Attach the other end of the 3 wire relay control wire to a Blue SPIKE Relay.

3) Cut the white wire, run it to the pressure switch and use the opening and closing of the pressure switch to make or brake the circuit to the Blue SPIKE Relay.

4) Connect the Blue SPIKE M+ to the red compressor wire and the black compressor wire to the relay block ground.

Page 11 , the sentence under table 2.1 seeps to imply that cable modification is OK.

Thanks

[Lloyd Burns]

Do *not* cut the "PWM" cable's white wire.

You must route the signal from the pressure switch(es)via the Robot Controller (RC), and let the RC control the pump.

For a step by step, read this:

http://www.team188.com/cr/forum/technical/messages/71.shtml

[DakotaFox]

The 2002 First Robotics Competition Manual

Page 9 right below Table 2.1 Says:

"It is acceptable to shorten or lengthen control system cables containig 3 or less wires as needed as long as the following conditions are met:

* The connection is insulated

* The proper wire is used (As specified above (in table 2.1))...."



Appendix A: Robot Rules

Rule M 14, item #2 says:

"The wiring for the valves and pressure switch may be modified as necessary to interface with the rest of the control system"

Does this not give permission to cut the white wire as neded and wire the compressor as follows?

1) Wire a jumper to a 15 pin connector, attach it to the #3 joystick input so it drives the white wire of relay 5 output high and holds it there as long as the RC or the OI are powered up.

2) Attach the 3 wire relay control wire to relay 5 output.

3) Attach the other end of the 3 wire relay control wire to the Blue SPIKE Relay control input.

4) Cut the white wire, run it to the pressure switch and use the opening and closing of the pressure switch to make or break the circuit to the Blue SPIKE Relay.

5) Connect the Blue SPIKE M (+) to the red compressor wire and the black compressor wire to the Spike M (-)

Thank you for your patience.

[kiracofe8]

Although this would work, rule C17 clearly rules it out. "You must connect all sensors used on the robot directly to the analog or switch inputs on the Robot Controller or custom circuit board". Since the custom circuit board is not allowed to directly drive relays, I think you're out of luck.

Really, though, programming the pressure switch isn't that hard this year. Last year, there was just one switch, it was kind of difficult b/c you needed a bunch of software to handle the hsyterisis of the system. This year, with two switches it is not hard at all. If you cannot figure it out, e-mail me and I'll get you the code that you need to make it work...