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Unread 08-04-2014, 13:34
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
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Re: Main breaker tripping, dead CIM

Quote:
Originally Posted by KGenson View Post
Would upping the gauge of the wires running from the PD board help at all? Say running 10 gauge from the PD board to the motor controllers, and keeping the 12 gauge lines coming out of the CIMs as short as possible? Is there a software solution that might also help, say by turning off a CIM or reducing power when a stall condition is detected? Do any of the motor controllers have a way of reporting current draw or load back to the main system?
Changing from #12 to #10 and making everything shorter will increase your current draw, not decrease it. As you increase current demand, there is a voltage drop increase across everything in the path, wires, PD, breakers, speed controllers, and connectors. Jaguars when using the CAN bus can report current at the input to the controller. Be advised that the Jags have an over current and an under volt fault. Just like putting fans on a closed motor, trying to cool the breakers externally does little to change the trip point.
The compressors draw significant current when starting but in general are one of the least demand motors we use. The old Thomas KOP compressor would draw 25-27 amps at start and will run at 12 amps. The new Viair starts at something like 20 amps and runs at a little over 10.
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.

Last edited by Al Skierkiewicz : 08-04-2014 at 13:41.