View Single Post
  #32   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 09-12-2014, 08:47
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
Posts: 10,798
Al Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Keeping the main breaker from tripping

Guys,
FIRST hasn't ruled against the canned air because it really doesn't do that much. The thermal device is relatively isolated from the sealed case. You cool the case down but it doesn't reduce the temperature of the bimetal strip enough to change the characteristics. As Aren has pointed out, this is a simple and small piece of metal. It will heat or cool rapidly without intervention from the outside world. That is what it is designed to do. The current flowing through the contacts have the greatest effect. To a lesser extent, poor connections to the main breaker cause heat to be generated and conducted to the contacts through the metal carrying currents in the breaker. However, the thermal mass of the wiring and contact terminals on the breaker are sufficiently high that one would have to cool down the entire main electrical system to have the desired effect. No matter how you cut it, six CIMs are still drawing the maximum current from the battery in stall at full throttle. Teams that claim they are not tripping the main breaker have learned to ramp up to full throttle or prevent drivers from doing so in a match. In addition to the dangers of inhalation, the rapid cooling in a humid environment produces moisture on electrical parts and the chemicals tend to wash out lubricants. Your mileage will surely vary.
__________________
Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
________________________
Storming the Tower since 1996.