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Unread 27-03-2014, 17:39
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Danny Diaz Danny Diaz is offline
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Re: Team 2853 presents...their Book of Electrical

I want to congratulate you on taking the initiative of creating such a guide - this is something I am currently working with team leadership on my team to create (similar, but more specifically electronics-oriented).

However, I just gave the whole thing a quick-browse and I've found a couple areas that need work (mostly electrical). Here are a few I found quickly:
  1. Wago Connector (Under Power Connector) - The Wago is not used to jump power from the PDB to the cRIO power connector. The cRIO power connector on the PDB has a 4-pole connector on the PDB and plugs to the 4-pole or 2-pole power connector on the cRIO. The 4-pole power connector on the PDB allows you to use the 24V connector on the PDB for both the cRIO as well as 24V pneumatics. What I'm sure you MEANT to say was that the Wago connector is used to provide power from the 12V branches on the PDB to the Digital Sidecar power connector.
  2. Motor Controllers - the Jaguar, Talon, and Victor breaker definitions are incorrect. The Jaguar, Talon, and Victors can all use 20A breakers if you wanted - you must provide the correct breaker to protect the wires used AND provide enough power for the current draw of the device being used (whichever is less). For instance, if you use 16AWG wires, you need to use 20A breakers - but you can use a Talon to power a CIM with ease; however, that won't provide enough current to the current-hungry CIM motor. So you would require at least 12AWG wire to route power to the Talon, so that then you can use a 40A breaker for the CIM.
  3. Victor - The victor does NOT provide square-root power to a device. If you have a 12V input, you can provide a 12V output. Not really sure where you got that gem from.
  4. Victors, Talons, and Jaguars are all interchangeable. Except for the fact that in my Humble but Accurate Opinion Jaguars should never be used for drivetrains. The reason lies behind the "software-controlled progressive current limitations" built into the firmware. But, functionally and power-wise, they are interchangeable.
  5. Spike - it should be noted that a spike can also use a 20A snap-action breaker and is not limited to a 20A fuse.
  6. When wiring your Camera, be careful - the metal post sticking out of the camera is likely connected to the common (ground) wire of the power input. Make sure the camera mount is insulated from the robot frame.
  7. In the same regard, be careful with the cRIO. The cRIO's case is also connected to the common (ground) wire of the power input. Make sure the cRIO is insulated from your frame (usually I just mount the cRIO with velcro).

Otherwise, great job with the documentation.

-Danny
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Danny Diaz
Former Lead Technical Mentor, FRC 418

Last edited by Danny Diaz : 27-03-2014 at 17:44.