Thread: Dead battery!
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Unread 10-02-2005, 18:48
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AKA: Dane B.
FRC #1425 (Wilsonville Robotics)
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Re: Dead battery!

Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesCH95
Everyone keeps saying check the battery terminal to make sure it didn't short, if it did, there would be large scorch marks on the chassis where it made contact (I've seen 6awg get arc-welded onto metal by shorting). Also, check your breaker block, there was a mfg warning that said stuff inside of it may come loose during shipping and you should open it up to check for loose hardware, that could be the cause of all your problems. I would also try using a current sensor (not FIRST one, the one on a multimeter) to measure how much current you are drawing while running. In 2003 we were drawing 60amps with the bot up on blocks and the current sensor helped us pinpoint the problems (loose electrical connection and one of the transmissons). Good luck!
On the multimeter with as a current sensor:
You want to watch out with this one. Most multimeters have three ports: a sensitive voltage/resistance port, a ground, and a high-amperage port. Most meters are set up with the sensitive port and ground, and if current is measured with that probe, it will fry the meter. Even the high-amperage port has a limit. On mine, it's 10amps for 15 seconds. If you run, say, 50 or 60 amps through it, it's toast in no time flat. Read your multimeter carefully to see what its current limit is.

Sparks
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ICs do weird things when voltage is run out of spec.

I love to take things apart. The fact that they work better when I put them back together it just a bonus.

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