View Single Post
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 13-04-2016, 00:19
philso philso is offline
Mentor
FRC #2587
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 938
philso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond reputephilso has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Wiring in general help

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jhstorm View Post
I agree with what everyone else was saying. IMO, the most important parts for cleaner wiring are having an electrical sub-team,planning out where everything goes ahead of time, and most importantly leaving time for wiring, if possible. This past year, once we had the basic dimensions of the drivebase, a few people on the electrical sub-team CADed out an electrical pan and did placement of where all the components would be. It ended up helping greatly. As this was my first year on the electrical team, the thing that helped me the most was doing wiring during off-season. We had to rebuild our 2013 robot and I ended up getting practice by doing the pwm crimps for the old bot. If there are things needing to be wired during off-season, maybe let your newer students practice. Just some thoughts...

Here's a article I found about some wiring for robotics that might help. https://frcdesigns.com/2015/07/22/fr...rsus-function/

And also don't be afraid to use a plethora of zipties, fasteners, etc.
The Electrical Sub-Team should be reviewing the CAD to ensure that the design allows sufficient space for the electrical (and pneumatic) components AND sufficient space to install and service those components. They need to speak up and veto designs that do not allow easy access to critical components. I have seen many beautiful CAD designs that cannot be built and/or cannot be repaired easily so they are essentially worthless.

Time spent planning your electrical (and pneumatic) system and time spent doing a good quality construction job is an investment that will pay you back in the form of fewer failures, easier and faster repairs during your competition season.

Here is a link to the "Electrical Layout & Construction" presentation I gave at the local Mock Kickoff last fall. It is based on many years of professional experience in mass manufacturing of electrical equipment. It may give you some good ideas on how to lay out your electrical system.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3177?

Probably the two biggest problems I have found in our robots and the robots of teams we help at competitions are bad crimps and loose (screw) connections. Both can leave you dead on the field or cause intermittent problems like radio or RoboRio resets that will drive you crazy and cause you to lose matches. A pull test should be done immediately after each and every crimp. Screw-type terminals such as those on the batteries, the breaker and SPARK motor controllers should be tight and should not move when you push on the lugs with your fingers.

I would discourage hinged panels unless absolutely necessary. Routing the wires across the gap so that the do not impede the motion of the panel and do not get damaged by the motion of the panel is tricky. We avoid such practices at work for this reason. Often some time spent thinking will result in alternatives.

Last edited by philso : 13-04-2016 at 00:22.
Reply With Quote