Static warning!!!
 

Our team was testing out our robot on a carpet, with the special wheels on a REALLY dry day (we live in NH). After running the robot for a while we decided to work on it. When we touched the robot, to ground our selves, we had BAD static electricity:ahh: . We were even seeing it arc. We think that the wheels were building a charge as we drove on the carpet. Fortunately, we did not fry anything, but we think that we were just lucky. This is just a warning to make sure no other team (like the ones that lives in a cold dry climate) makes the same mistake and fries something.:yikes:

Re: Static warning!!!
 

thanks for warning us all:D

Re: Static warning!!!
 

thanks we really appreciate it!!!

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Interesting...

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Van de Graaff!

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Just make sure you ground yourself BEFORE you touch any electronics (driver station, side cars, radio, camera, cRIO, etc.).

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Yep. We had an indecent tonight. We went to the local museum that has a artificial ice rink (basically frictionless). It shocked when we touched the driver station and then the ethernet ports failed, first one, then both. We ordered a new driver station tonight. The most recent update had a way to ground it. I STRONGLY suggest everyone to, if you haven't already. We lost our practice time and fried the DS. We bought some floor stuff so we can practice in our building on the weekend.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

the driver's station are so sensitive we are looking into placing a static mat under it.

http://www.antistaticmat.net/

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Are you guys having random reboots when there's static? We are. The mats work great for this btw, but there's still some problems for us with static.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

To be absolutely clear, the grounding of the Driver Station for ESD immunity is a rule (R85.1) that MUST be followed by teams. Inspectors will be checking for the rework.

http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Driver%20Station%20ESD%20Sensitivity%20Rework%20In structions.pdf

Russ

Re: Static warning!!!
 

FIRST sent out a new update on how to ground the driver to prevent you from destroying it with static.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

As for testing, we have been using a drag wire to discharge the potential difference between the bot and the floor. We know that we cannot do it at the competition, but it is a good thing to do while you are in the shop testing.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

What rule prevents you from doing it?

Re: Static warning!!!
 

As long as it doesn't add traction, damage the floor or connect to either battery terminal, a discharge wire sounds good to me.

Russ

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Anthony,

As Alan and Russ have advised, yes you can have a discharge wire, In addition to their guidance, I would add to be sure that the wire is always within the "bumper perimeter" and does not pose an entanglement hazard.

Regards,

Mike

Re: Static warning!!!
 

As I said this is for testing only for us. The rule says that the only contact with the floor must be with the wheels provided in the kit.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Again I ask: what rule? So far as I can tell, neither the manual nor the GDC's Q&A responses make a static drain wire illegal.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Actually, that's not what the rule says. You'll be safe if you use this simplification but it's not technically accurate.

Russ

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Does this rework thing solve the problem or should teams still take other precautions?

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Should solve the problem but other precautions wouldn't hurt. It's always good practice to ground yourself before working with/around electronics.

Russ

Re: Static warning!!!
 

Thank you. I need to show this one to the rest of the team. It took me a day to convince the team to mount the CRIO on non-static materian (wood). They didn't believe the frame would carry a charge.

Re: Static warning!!!
 

<R41> should have convinced them in a matter of seconds.