Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoucher
A small generator on loan from the fire department ran the OI and had a battery on charge.
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Ahh, there's nothing like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.
A much easier way we found for having a mobile power source for the OI is by purchasing one of
these "universal" DC-DC voltage step down converters. (Similar ones are sold at Wal-Mart, Pep Boys, etc.) They are normally designed to plug into the cigarette lighter in a car, and can do any voltage between 3v and 12v DC in 1.5v steps. They also come with a half dozen different plug styles, so you can find exactly the one that fits into the OI.
For our Mountain Dewbot, we cut off the cigarette plug adapter, and spliced in an Anderson connector. (We also put a 20amp car fuse inline as well.) By powering the OI off one of the robot batteries, it will last all day long, and it allows you to put the OI, battery, and modem in a bookbag, and carry around a joystick/XBOX xontroller in your hand and drive the robot that way.
Although for parades, you can just leave the car cigarette adapter on, and power your OI that way.
