Re: Victor 888 PWM Problems
 

See attachment. It appears that some PWM connectors are more equal than others¹.

Measuring how far the PWM protrudes is useful only if you you know the correct measurement for that particular brand/model of connector.


¹ George Owell, Animal Farm

Re: Victor 888 PWM Problems
 

I am a mentor for team 5196, and I think I might be able to clarify our issue a little more:


The female PWM connector on the VEX branded Victor 888 speed controllers on the 2014 KOP (I only specify this so strictly because I've never seen this issue on other Victors, but maybe I'm just lucky) seems to have a weak/loose connection when inserted straight up in the connector (and the plastic housing ONLY allows a straight, 90* insertion)

When we inserted the PWM cables (the NEW, UNUSED cables we got directly out of the KOP) into the victor, they were definitely going ALL the way into the female connector (you could feel that little bit of extra resistance as they slid in) and looked exactly like the picture you just posted.

They were, however, only giving us a flashing orange/yellow light which means "no PWM signal."

At first, we thought we were getting no PWM signal from our DS, but connecting up a Jaguar as a test verified that we were, without a doubt, sending signal down that wire. We later ended up building a little PWM signal generator out of a spare arduino and verifying on a scope that it was, in fact sending signal before ruling out everything else except the speed controller itself.

After playing with the connector and trying to get it to detect the signal, we finally gave up and disassembled it.

We then hooked up the speed controller as normal, sans plastic housing, and inserted the PWM cable.

What we found was that the speed controller would only sense the PWM signal when the PWM cable was tilted a small amount.

This means that either

A. The PWM cable pins are too small and don't properly make contact with the female connector

or

B. The connector is designed for larger male pins and doesn't make a proper connection

or

C. The male pins on the PWM connector aren't long enough to reach the bottom of the female connector on the victor

This issue occurred on BOTH of our KOP 888s, so I would guess that it's either a manufacturing defect on the cables/speed controller OR FIRST gave us PWM cables with pins that were a little too small for the PWM connectors on those particular victors.


Our fix, as previously stated, was to insert solid 22 gauge wire into the connector (which was large enough in diameter to make a solid connection with the female connector in the victor) and put a female PWM socket on the other end of those wires.

D. The shell often causes the PWM connector to not go in straight. The male pins end up missing the female socket entirely. The male pins deflect and end up resting beside the female socket, instead of inside of it. The male pins get bent slightly as a result, but it still "feels" like it went in completely, and correctly.

Pull the connector out, straighten the pins, and reinsert it part way. Wiggle the connector once you feel the pics hit the top of the female socket, but keep the connector absolutely straight. If everything is lined up right, it should actually take VERY LITTLE FORCE to insert the connector the rest of the way.

It may take a few tries to get it right.
This is also a very common issue. I have seen it 4 times already this year, and have lost count since I've started doing FRC...

Re: Victor 888 PWM Problems
 

We verified this connection by shining a flashlight down the connector while we inserted it VERY slowly. We didn't have any bent pins, either. Not even slightly.

However, I see your point. The Connectors kinda' make it so you're "going in blind" and makes it very difficult to get in properly.

Question: Can only one CIM motor be attached to a Victor motor controller?

Re: Victor 888 PWM Problems
 

Yes.

2014 Game Manual 4.8.21 R51 Table 4-4 Row 2

"Each power regulating device may control electrical loads per Table 4-4. Unless otherwise noted, each power
regulating device may control one and only one electrical load"