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Originally Posted by Daniel
Teams MUST use the SLU-70 screw lugs on all batteries used in competition, on main breakers and on distribution panel. Most teams missed this rule by not carefully looking at the diagram.
At the Great Lakes Regional competition this rule was enforced. The rule was explicit in the manual with accompanying diagram making their intent even more obvious.
FIRST tried to solve a repeating problem of improper crimps loosening by switching to the SLU-70 lugs. Few teams really know how to create a proper crimp connection. And pliers just don’t work at all (and I have seen crimps made with pliers).
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For those teams that had been using high quality solid copper lugs
with a hex crimping tool, this rule was an abomination resulting
in a much less secure and harder to insulate connection. We had
invested several hundred dollars in crimp tooling in prior years,
making this rule very unfortunate.
We noted the rule in the documentation, however, and tin plated a bag
of SLU-70 lugs so that it was easy to solder the wire in after clamping
the screw. If you need these lugs at the San Jose regional, we have a
few of our tin plated ones left and will be happy to hand them out in
hopes of a rules change next year that will allow us to return to aircraft
quality crimped lugs. Using the SLU-70 lugs are a fine example of
"building down to code," but if you are going to have such rules they
should be enforced.