Spikes with Motors
 

Does anyone know if a spike can be used to run a johnson motor on last years controller (2003)? The manual does not really state that it can't, but does not say that it can.

Thanks.

-Greg The Great

I don't think the Johnson Motor was in the kit last year, but according to the rules from 2002, the Johnson can be run from a relay module. It hink the reason the rules exclude it this past year is because the motor wasn't in the kit.

So the spike would need to be fun to a relay instead of a PWM?

Can anyone confirm this for me?

Thanks,

-Greg The Great

The spikes do in fact connect to the relay connectors on the IFI controller. I'm not sure exactly what would happen if you connected it to a pwm, but as they use the same voltage range, it would probably work anyway (but not suggested). The difference is the PWM's can output a range of values, the relays only puts out of and on.

Would it be able to jun a Johnson 12 volt DC motor, on a Relay Out?

-Greg The Great

Yes, connect the motor to the spike and run the spike off of one of the relays.

based on your previous posts, you (Greg) don't have a lot of electronics experience, so don't try this!

The signals are not compatible, and definetly won't work.

I hope everyone understands that the power for the motor and relay comes from the fuse panel, not the robot controller. It is only the signal (forward, reverse, or off) that comes through the small three-wire cable from the controller.

You should be able to control a spike thru the pwm output. You would have to set the values to either 0, 127, or 254 for reverse, neutral, and forward respectively. If the signal is close to 0, 127, or 254, the spike should turn on, but I dont think it will work with any other value.

That will not work. The signals are not compatible. The connectors are the same but you cannot interchange PWM's and Relay Outputs. Please do not do that.

Matt

Thats What I was thinking...

However a Johnson can go on a spike and then to a Relay Output correct?

Thanks for The Help All,

-Greg The Great

Greg, I suggest you ask one of the other members or mentors on your team before you try any of this. As we cannot really see how you have hooked it up before you apply power we cannot really tell you if somthings going wrong, if you read the manuals to the control system located here
quick start guide

http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRST...tart_Guide.pdf

http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRST...ence_Guide.pdf

those should get you pretty well started

I am aware on how to set up the main system, what I am asking is if a SPIKE (this years (2k3)) can operate a motor, I know how the connections go, and all that stuff, I just do not know if a spike can run a Johnson 12 Volt DC motor. The manual says (selonoids, pumps, etc.) Does this include motors, I am aware of how to connect it and how to run it to the breaker pannel and all that fun stuff, I just do not know if a spike can run a motor. Does anyone know if it can???

Thanks,

-Greg The Great

I know the spike can do light, compressor window, seat, and the tiny little Johnson if that is the one you mean. I know it cannot run the drill or chia. I don't know about the FP or globe.

The johnsons I am refering to are simmiler to the ones in FP gearboxes. The RPM tops off around 14,000 on a good battery.

-Greg The Great