PWM Cables

[Alex Cormier]

Is there any to get around from buying them online? Anyone find some good ones from a hobby shop or anything?

[jgannon]

This is probably not what you're looking for, but I might as well throw it out there. If you go to any online electronics company (I tend to use Jameco, but Mouser and Digikey are nice, too), you can buy a crimper tool, pins, and plastic housings, add your own wire (or buy some), and make your own cables for significantly cheaper than you'll be able to find them anywhere else. The Jameco part numbers are:

Crimper: 159265CE
Housings: 157382CE
Female pins: 100765CE

I don't have the number for the male pins offhand, but it should be pretty easy to hunt down. If you're planning on making more than three cables, your average price will be less than $5, which makes it cheaper than IFI.

[Francis-134]

Indeed, you can make your own PWM cables and they will be significantly cheaper than buying them. However, if you plan to compete in an official Vex event, you must use the Vex extention cables.

[jeffmorris]

The connectors on the PWM extension cables that I bought from Vexlabs are not keyed.

[skimoose]

The vexlabs pwm extension cables are LEGAL for FVC events. Jeff you're correct, the cables are not keyed so you need to pay attention when installing them. Some RC manufacturers make keyed pwm cable extensions, they're a little hard to find. I did find a online company that sells pwm extensions at $2.00 each here. (http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Store.jsp) The cables are down near the bottom of the page.

[Phalanx]

We have made our own custom PWM cables for FRC. You can get the components you need here.

http://www.hansenhobbies.com/products_connectorparts.html

I will say, it's a bit of a pain to make them, but if you need something really custom or need one in a pinch this is great to have.

[DonRotolo]

New Micros Inc sells a crimp connector kit here. (http://www.newmicros.com/cgi-bin/store/order.cgi?form=prod_detail&part=Crimp_Kit&id=Xxr36pXUfC5615FN3w2qWKr0cP08i152) That kit includes female connector pins (one side of the extension cable you're wanting to make) and a crimp tool (also sold by Radio Shack (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103683&cp=&origkw=crimp+tool&kw=crimp+tool&parentPage=search) ). The male pins are available from DigiKey (http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T061/0110.pdf), look at the lower right corner, Part No. WM2515-ND. (Female pins & plastic housings are also there...)

Don

[987HighRoller]

We have made our own custom PWM cables for FRC. You can get the components you need here.

http://www.hansenhobbies.com/products_connectorparts.html

I will say, it's a bit of a pain to make them, but if you need something really custom or need one in a pinch this is great to have.

Wow! That's really helpful! I'll definitely check it out! Thanks!

[SgtMillhouse648]

I made my own by cutting the origional pwm cable in half, and splicing wire between the two with some butt end connectors

[Mark McLeod]

This thread discusses, down to the part numbers, places to get the components to make all your own PWM cables like Phalanx does.

[gblake]

This thread discusses, down to the part numbers, places to get the components to make all your own PWM cables like Phalanx does.

Anyone out there have experience with trying to use approx 20' PWM cables between a Vextroller and a Vex servo? Will it work at all? Are any special steps required to make it work?

Blake

[Elgin Clock]

I made my own by cutting the origional pwm cable in half, and splicing wire between the two with some butt end connectors

Thats fine for off season projects, but does anyone know the legality of that in competition??

Not that it IS an issue, but it COULD be knowing all them rules in the manual.

Just curious.

[skimoose]

Thats fine for off season projects, but does anyone know the legality of that in competition??

Not that it IS an issue, but it COULD be knowing all them rules in the manual.

Just curious.

2005-2006 FVC robot rule R9: Parts may NOT be modified as follows:

a. Motors, extension cords, sensors, controllers, battery packs, and any other electrical components of the Vex Robotics Design System may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.

b. Welding, soldering, brazing, gluing, or attaching in any way that is not provided in the kit will NOT be allowed.
i. Hardware may be secured with Loctite or a similar thread locker.
1. This may be used for securing hardware ONLY.
It is very clear that cutting and butt splicing or soldering PWM cables violates FVC rules. Vexlabs PWM cables are legal as long as you don't alter them. A cheaper source for PWM cables that are identical to Vexlab's can be found HERE! (http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Store.jsp) MarkIII sells 6", 12", 24", and wye cables for $2.00, 2.50, and 3.00 each. :cool:

I don't expect this robot rule to change for this coming year. So don't alter your PWM cables!

[Elgin Clock]

Thanks Art, I'm sure I will revisit this topic when the manual is released in '07.

I'm guessing this is strictly in the ideals of a concern for electrical wiring safety the way it was written.

We have enough birds nests in FIRST without people crimping and splicing wires together.

I doubt that rule will change to allow splices anytime in the near future.


And Art, the whole reason I found this thread again was to ask if this series cable:
http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Info.jsp?item=44
Was the one you were talking about a few posts back with your link?
I need a simple 6" jumper to test some motors..
And 2 bucks sounds like a deal if that's them.

[skimoose]

Art, the whole reason I found this thread again was to ask if this series cable:
http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Info.jsp?item=44
Was the one you were talking about a few posts back with your link?
I need a simple 6" jumper to test some motors..
And 2 bucks sounds like a deal if that's them.

Yes that's the pwm cable link. As far as I can tell, they're identical to IFI cables.

[Elgin Clock]

2005-2006 FVC robot rule R9: Parts may NOT be modified as follows:
........

I don't expect this robot rule to change for this coming year. So don't alter your PWM cables!

Thanks Art, I'm sure I will revisit this topic when the manual is released in '07.

I'm guessing this is strictly in the ideals of a concern for electrical wiring safety the way it was written.

Sorry All, I misread Art's post of the FVC manual quote as FRC, and I was talking about FRC competition when I said the manual would be released in '07.

Remember all, Team registration for VEX begins next week and the game is due to be released September 15.
(I heard this from a very informed little VEX birdie.. lol)

Sorry for the confusion if I caused any!

I guess being a long time surfer of the CD forums which were almost exclusively FRC topic based, I have to be more careful of what I read seeing as FLL and FVC discussions pop up more often now. :ahh: