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Unread 23-01-2013, 14:56
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fovea1959 fovea1959 is offline
Herder of programmers
AKA: Doug Wegscheid
FRC #3620 (The Average Joes)
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: St Joseph
Posts: 330
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Measuring Amperage

we may want to measure amperage for our shooter. I'm looking at using a Polulu Hall Effect current sensor (http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2199), and am reading the rules:

Quote:
R49

Branch circuits may include intermediate elements such as COTS connectors, splices, COTS flexible/rolling/sliding contacts, and COTS slip rings, as long as the entire electrical pathway is via appropriately gauged/rated elements.
Quote:
R54

Custom circuits shall not directly alter the power pathways between the ROBOT battery, PD Board, motor controllers, relays, motors, or other elements of the ROBOT control system (including the power pathways to other sensors or circuits). Custom high impedance voltage monitoring or low impedance current monitoring circuitry connected to the ROBOT’S electrical system is acceptable, if the effect on the ROBOT outputs is inconsequential.
Would putting one of these in the controller to motor pathway (not a CIM motor, a 30A branch circuit) be "inconsequential"? Everyone on our team that's looked at this so far thinks we're legal, but getting another set of eyes on it seems prudent.