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Unread 04-15-2016, 10:02 AM
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AKA: Nate
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Re: Driver Station/Operator Console Power

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbale2000 View Post
This. If there is some rule we all missed about the driver station power, it's not being enforced anywhere I'm aware of.

IMO, the biggest thing to be mindful of is how many amps you're pulling, so while some teams have managed to use large flat-screen TVs for their driver stations, there are certainly plenty of more practical (and reliable) solutions out there (though the idea is certainly appealing). Our team used a 10" car backup camera screen with HDMI input, we set it up as a 2nd monitor for our laptop and ran our camera via USB off of that. The screen had a minimal impact on power so we were confident we wouldn't be popping breakers (it also came with a nice mounting solution that allowed us to stick it on our existing driver station).
This is the only passage in the Game Manual that mentions the outlet, in the Arena section:

Code:
One 120VAC NEMA 5-15R power outlet. It is located on the right side of each PLAYER STATION
shelf. The outlet is protected by a 3-Amp circuit breaker and can be used to power the
OPERATOR CONSOLE. DRIVE TEAMS are responsible for monitoring their power consumption
as a tripped breaker in the outlet does not constitute an ARENA fault.
It is yours to do with what you will, but it is also your responsibility to know that what you are plugging in will not cause it to pop.
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