MK 12 volt battery question
 

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

The batteries are slightly different from those last year. I'm not sure of exact specs. You are not aloud to use batteries from last year as this would create an unfair advantage to those teams who dont have those batteries from last year

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

It is not the voltage of the battery that is different. It is the model number. If you would go look at your batteries from previous years you would notice the are exide ES-xxx* model number. EX-xxx* != MK 12

-John

*I do not know the exact model number off hand.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Specs for the 2007 battery are here.

Specs for the 2006 battery are here.

The new one appears to have about 10% less stated capacity at 1C discharge rate. So if you could use the older battery you might get an advantage over a team using the new one -- which is almost certainly the reason why the older ones are not allowed this year. For more, see this post.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

And it is definetly fair to all of a sudden make the batteries from previous years extinct in order to make the teams who collected their batteries from previous years and who can't afford to buy 10 extra batteries like other teams go through all the trouble of possibly losing qaulifiers due to the fact that the batteries don't charge fast enough.

Sadly there's nothing we can do about that. Might as well learn to deal with it. Big disappointment but oh well.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Not every team is going to be in a match at the same time. We do know how to share.:D

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Everyone's in the same boat. Everyone has only 2 batteries and no collected batteries from previous years. That is, in fact, MORE fair than everyone but rookies having a collection of batteries from prior years. You can still use old batteries for testing and practice day. You have more chargers than the rookies. With even a little bit of effort on your part to solving the problem you could make 2 batteries work just fine for a regional. If you buy just one extra battery you should be more than covered. They can be had for around $50.

I speak from experience by the way. 57 takes just 3 batteries anywhere we travel and we don't have any problems.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

One of the bullets in <R46> says:

I interperet that to say that we can only use the 2 batteries provided in the kit. Opinions?

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

If that is FIRST's intention, I don't think it could be enforced. (How would FIRST know if a team brought more than two batteries to the regional?)

That said, I wonder if that is a mistake in the manual.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

That rule was the same last year as well. You will be able to buy more of the same battery and use them, as long as they are the same as the ones in the KOP.

Expect a clarification in the Q&A or a Team Update.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

No. I would interpret that to mean we can't use a battery in the kit, and another battery not in the kit at the same time on the robot.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

I would interpret this:
To mean that we can purchase additional batteries, and therefore, use them in competition, as long as they are MK ES17-12s.

-Nate

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Agreed. R46 covers what you can use ON the robot at any time. No using 2 batteries at once, no using a different battery on the robot. Doesn't cover what you can have at the comp. So I would expect some Q&As but no updates on that.

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Don't know if anyone has noticed this, but the new batteries seem a bit heavier as well. We pulled out the scale today and clocked them at about 13.5lbs, which is about 1.5 lbs more than the old batteries (someone correct me if I'm wrong that the old ones weighed 12lbs)

Re: MK 12 volt battery question
 

Richard,

There are some major differences between the two sections of spec sheets you posted.

That's a huge difference. The Exide battery from 2006 had a 230A max discharge. Can anyone confirm which of these is right? Am I missing something here? If the max discharge has dropped all the way to 90A, we'll definitely be reconsidering our motor usage.