[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by Danny Diaz

...but you do not have to use the supplied charger for the backup battery so long as your backup battery charger is still safe...

Danny,

Your point is well taken but is not supported by exact interpretation of the rules.

<R56> The 7.2v backup battery may be charged on or off the ROBOT. When off the ROBOT, the battery is to be charged with the provided 7.2V backup battery charger.

This is one of the FIRST rules which is largely non-enforceable. I also agree that, from an engineering standpoint, there are many better solutions than the provided charger. This is particularly true of "smart" chargers which monitor the state of charge of the battery (they utilize an embedded microcontroller and look for the minus dv/dt "bump") and adjust the charging current accordingly.

As it stands right now, few inspectors will walk the pits looking at your NiCad chargers. However, if pressed, they would have little choice than to quote <R56>.

I invite you to air your concerns on the FIRST Q&A. Only by airing these concerns to FIRST will we get the rules changed.

That's JMHO...

Mike