[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
A drag chain does nothing but make the team feel good that they have solved a problem. This goes back to an automotive accessory that was sold in the fifties that attached to the bumper to reduce static in the AM radio. On most FTC robots, ESD events would be visible and harmful if they were the problem. The NXT and EVO are tested and designed to prevent issues from ESD. Most of the other components are also designed to minimize issues from static discharge. The majority of issues on FTC robots are due to just a few minor electrical problems that could be easily fixed with a better electrical design.
1. Loose USB cables to the Samantha cause noise and therefore data corruption. Simple fix is to secure the cables near both the controller and the Samantha so that they don't move during operation.
2. Teams have decided to tin the wires they use in FTC robots. This is one of the worse things you can do. The screw terminals are designed for stranded, bare copper wire.
3. The size of the wire used to feed the motor controller should be #16 or #18. Using a smaller gauge wire causes significant losses. This is more of a problem for teams using multiple motors on a single controller.
4. Daisy chaining the power on motor controllers and then feeding the Samantha at the end of the chain drops the supply voltage to the Samantha. Use power distribution by splicing power wires or by using a Power Lock distribution device if you use these connectors. Again use #16 or #18 wire.
5. Keep wiring short. While the Samantha is a low current device, the motor and controllers are not. The currents they require can cause significant voltage losses when used with long or small gauge wire.