is there eletrical power in the stands
 

Since this is a stadium - I take it that there will not be eletrical power (for laptops, etc) availible in the stands.

Am I correct? Does someone from the Lonestar regional know, and could help me out? Thanks.

Arg - I need to figure out how to power my laptop with 3 bad batteries, 2 ok ones, and one good one. Total battery life: 5 hours. :(

Get more batteries? :P

what are you using it for?
 

Does your laptop do standby or hibernate? You probably don't need to on for the whole day unless you are watching DVDs or something.

You _might_ be able to run an extension cord from somewhere at the top of the lower bowl, but I wouldn't count on it. I know some of the regional venues had plugs on the concourse, but being a football stadium, it might be harder.

I'll bring a few 150 foot extension cords.

Newark Airport is going to be a nighmare.

"Why are you carrying all these extension cords, sir?"


:ahh:

I would like to suggest that you buy a power pack, you can get some from many different websites. one i have is from xantrex, www.xantrex.com. The one i have will supply 300 watts of power for a while, like 3 hours i think. It would easily power a laptop charger for 6 hours. They sell the 300 watt for around $80 I got mine from where i work (MENARDS) and it only cost me about $65. They xantrex does have more powerful verisons that would last longer and power more stuff. But these you would have to ship down with your robot or with someone driving if you were to be flying, i dont think the airport would like to see this large electronic device getting put onto the plane.

Thanks for the input.

I got an extra battery that fits in my laptop where the CD drive is: so I just doubled my power supply.

I also have a few spares.

...and some 150 foot extension cords. :D

OK, forget the extra battery in the CD bay. Looks like it's extensions cords for me! :D

Why don't we just bring our own generators ??

Ben
If i remeber correctly, team 303 is flying down to houston with team 25, so i will have one of my freshmen take those extension cords off your hands, he doesnt need to bring clothes, those could be his checked luggage :D :p

I miss the days of being allowed to carry spare robot parts and power tools in carryons...

LOL - I have my super-laptop carry-on with my power cables, mouse, extension cords, floppy drives, 6 month supply of water, passive radar, and fold-out radio transmitter, so I think I'm good carrying it on the plane. I'll just wind it real tight. :D

To those of you looking to get extension cords..

Make sure you check with arena staff before plugging in. Last year we needed cords in the stands and had to hunt down someone to approve of it. Other teams plugged in without asking and got unplugged.

Don't worry about that: I'll ask, and bring a power strip as well, just in case.

The So Cal regional at the LA Colleseum had outlets in the upper stands, but not in the lower ones. A robot battery attached to a laptop car charger, however, did a very nice job of keeping the laptops on.