How many extra batteries should you bring, and where can you buy more?

[haverfordfords]

I look at threads addressing this question and all the sources listed didn't work out, as the treads were outdated.

Our local suppliers of Exide batteries never heard of the ES18-12... where have you been able to buy these? Is there a specific place you have been successful in obtaining extra batteries from? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, how many batteries do you think we should have for regionals? Someone told me three - one charged, one charging, one in the bot - and cycling through them.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

[Kyle]

I look at threads addressing this question and all the sources listed didn't work out, as the treads were outdated.

Our local suppliers of Exide batteries never heard of the ES18-12... where have you been able to buy these? Is there a specific place you have been successful in obtaining extra batteries from? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, how many batteries do you think we should have for regionals? Someone told me three - one charged, one charging, one in the bot - and cycling through them.

Thanks in advance,
Jason
Try the first web site www.usfirst.org to find out how to order new parts.
Yes it is a very good idea to have a minimum of 3 batteries with you. three is a good number to have but more is always good.

[Ricky Q.]

Go here for the order form:

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/KOP_Order_Forms.htm

The batteries are only being sold through the Manchester, NH Batteries Plus location.

[haverfordfords]

Go here for the order form:

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/KOP_Order_Forms.htm

The batteries are only being sold through the Manchester, NH Batteries Plus location.

That is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

[Jeff K.]

It depends, does your robot drain your battery quickly so that after each match, you have practically a dead battery? Because if so, then you should bring extra batteries. If it doesn't, like if you could go through a few matches on a single battery and still be running as if you just put in a new battery, which would be really awesome if they would last that long, but if your robot could do that, then maybe just 3 or 4 batteries besides the one in your robot, so 4 or 5 total might be a good number. But actually I have a question. The batteries this year, are they different than the ones last year, and if they are, can we actually use last year's batteries, or do we have to order more new ones?

[mtaman02]

always bring enough for not just yourself but for other teams as well, many teams only walk with the 2 that was issued and thats usually not enough. The team i use to be on always brought say around 10 as of last year.

The reason I recommend you to bring more then 2 is because in case you end up in the elimination rounds you don't have time to charge and go you have just about enough time to switch em up..

Recommendation: Bring at least 5 at most 12 and have them labled using the alphabet that way you can keep track of which ones have been on the charger long enough to be used again.

[Lindsey]

The batteries this year, are they different than the ones last year, and if they are, can we actually use last year's batteries, or do we have to order more new ones?

The batteries have been the same for the past few years. Each battery has the part number on it (top left of the front side?) so you can check each battery. Just be careful using older batteries they tend to wear out and not hold as much charge.

We typically bring 6 batteries to competition, at least 4 of them being legal for competition. We use the extra/older batteries while in the pit. Before each match our pit crew goes through a pre-match checklist that ensures our robot is 100% (all bolts tight, electrical connections secure, arms or other mechanism function correctly). Part of the check is to put a fresh battery in the robot, not usually necessary just something we do. While the robot is powered up for the check we use an older battery to keep the new one fresh.

We also bring at least 3 battery chargers to keep all our batteries toped off. Also don't forget the backup battery and charger. We have 3 backup batteries we take to competition.

Lindsey