40 amps a must?
 

Sorry its our team's first time posting, but we've been keeping up on all thats been going on here. Anyway, we're dangerously overweight and looking to shed any pounds in any way possible. So do we have to use the board with the 40 amp fuses for the drill motors, or could we just stick with the 30 amps which have been running fine for us?

You are allowed to use the 30 amp fuse for drill motors but I wouldn't recomend it. The drill motors work there best at 60 amps and tend to blow breakers. I don't think you will be saving that much wait by removing the 40 amp panel anyway.

40A a MUST
 

Page 10 of the robot rules says 40A used with drill motor and CIM, so if you want to use ethier you must use the 40A block.

Opps, I missed that. But it sounds weird to me that FIRST will get mad over a breaker too small.

If, as your question suggests, you are looking to save weight by using a 30A breaker rather than a 40A, it would be safer to just drill an extra 1/4" hole in something. That would amount to the same weight loss. :)

Don't assume that a 30 amp breaker weighs 3/4 of a 40 amp one.

These drill motors are more powerful, meaning they draw more current, so a 40 amp breakers are for your benefit. You will not experience as many problems tripping breakers, etc.

Cory

I agree
 

Our robot has been moving around on the 30 amps and we have popped a breaker or two and we switched to 40 and had no problems!

we're moving on the cims and we keep popping the 40s at low speeds :mad:

Well see, there's your problem--you're only drilling 400 holes. I kid, I kid--and that's how thick of aluminum? We also have some steel, too.

Not sure on the thickness... it was actually something Woody Flowers said 3 or 4 years ago at Kick off in New Hampshire

1/8" AL 1/2" holes = 300 holes per pound

and yes you may use any breaker you want on the drill motors, however i think you still must use the larger breaker panel, If you are that close on weight you may want to look at some other area in which to reduce weight.

Go with TNT2 and drill speed hole!

Speed holes, eh?

Yah, speed holes, you can always use swords to make them:ahh:

or see if theres extra metal that you could completely cut off, or spare parts which could be smaller

you could also try drilling holes in the battery... that'll lose ya some weight alot faster. While your at it the compressor could use to shave a few pounds. :D Anyone got the pics that were posted last year of this?

Actually sprockets are a good source of weight loss depending on size. Replace some extruded aluminum (if your using it) with angle or box to save weight as well, then speed drill for even more weight loss (although its not much). Other than that make a list of what you need most and what you can afford to lose.