Is this legal?
Several years ago, I looked into it and decided that is was not (using an IO LED output to drive something other than an LED).
I have not looked at the rules this year, but I suppose that it is still illegal.
Quote:
<R78> All equipment connected to the Joystick Ports of the IFI Operator Interface must be powered solely
through the power available through the port. External power sources of any type are not permitted on any
equipment connected to the Joystick Ports. Portable computing devices may not be connected to Joystick
input ports on the Operator Interface. Power-passive devices (e.g. joysticks that draw their power solely
through the IFI Operator Interface joystick port) are permitted.
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From IFI OI Reference Manual:
Quote:
PORT 1 and PORT 3 each provide four LED output drivers. These LED drivers allow the connection of
external LEDs that duplicate the function of the top eight Robot Feedback LEDs on the Operator
Interface. The LED drivers provide 5V that is current limited to 10mA. Connect the LED’s anode to
the desired LED drive pin. Connect the LED’s cathode to any ground pins.
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and again:
Quote:
[3] The current limit of the +5V Aux from all 4 ports is about 100mA. The Aux Fault Led will start
illumination when the current draw from the +5V Aux Outputs total about 120 mA and the +5V
Aux voltage will have dropped to about 4.5 volts. Worse case, short condition: after about 30
seconds, the voltage will be at about 300 mV with a current of about 250 mA.
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The above rules & reference seem to imply that it would be legal as long as it use power from the Joystick Port and it is not a Portable computing device.
Even it there is some rule that makes it illegal, the work around we came up with (but never implemented) was to connect a PC or a stand alone device to the dashboard port and have the PC or the stand alone device generate the tone.
Thoughts?
Joe J.