Chief Delphi - URGENT ASSISTANCE!

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jdh042397

10-02-2014 17:29

URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Weve run into a bit of a snag. I know the battery terminals are only supposed to be 12 inches, but how long can the wires going from the PDB to the Circuit Breaker be?

Mark McLeod

10-02-2014 17:30

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

As long as you want.

People try to keep them short because of the weight of the wire, or as part of a plan to minimize power losses over long lengths of wire.

IndySam

10-02-2014 17:35

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

There no rules that say how long or short they should be. Battery leads either. The usual thing is to keep all wires as short as possible. Copper is heavy and that weight adds up quickly.

jdh042397

10-02-2014 17:36

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndySam (Post 1340819)

There no rules that say how long or short they should be. Battery leads either. The usual thing is to keep all wires as short as possible. Copper is heavy and that weight adds up quickly.

Are you sure? In rule R5, it says "the ROBOT battery and its associated half of the Anderson cable quick connect/disconnect pair (including no more than 12 in. of cable per leg, the associated cable lugs, connecting bolts". Doesnt that mean the battery cables have to be 12" or less?

cgmv123

10-02-2014 17:41

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdh042397 (Post 1340822)

Doesnt that mean the battery cables have to be 12" or less?

Technically only 12" is exempt from the weight limit, but in practice it means battery wiring has to be less than 12"

Al Skierkiewicz

10-02-2014 17:44

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

The wires connected to the battery are limited to a maximum length of 12" to keep teams from shifting additional robot weight to the battery, which is not weighed. Granted it is small but we see many robots every year that weigh in a 120.0 lbs. (cough WildStang cough) Every little bit helps.

IndySam

10-02-2014 17:45

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgmv123 (Post 1340827)

Technically only 12" is exempt from the weight limit, but in practice it means battery wiring has to be less than 12"

Exactly, you can make them as long as you want them but they will count against your weight.

cgmv123

10-02-2014 17:49

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndySam (Post 1340832)

Exactly, you can make them as long as you want them but they will count against your weight.

The issue is you have to cut them for weighing purposes.

jdh042397

10-02-2014 17:52

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

To clarify we want to know what/if there is a maximum length from the Power Distribution Board to the Circuit Breaker.

dellagd

10-02-2014 17:55

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdh042397 (Post 1340842)

To clarify we want to know what/if there is a maximum length from the Power Distribution Board to the Circuit Breaker.

The first reply answered that question, there is none (and he is correct :P )

cgmv123

10-02-2014 17:56

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdh042397 (Post 1340842)

To clarify we want to know what/if there is a maximum length from the Power Distribution Board to the Circuit Breaker.

R35 and Figure 4-11 do not specify a minimum length for that segment of wire.

jdh042397

10-02-2014 17:57

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

Thank you for the replies this information helps alot.

Al Skierkiewicz

11-02-2014 07:20

Re: URGENT ASSISTANCE!

jd,
The 6 gauge wire will drop some voltage for every inch of wire. The extent of this drop is dependent on how much current your robot draws during play. It is highly recommended to keep this as short as possible. That is inches, not feet, if possible. I had hoped that teams would take away from the 12" rule (R5) that they should keep the wires on the batteries no longer than 12".

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