[Al Skierkiewicz]

This rule is meant to protect first the battery and associated primary wiring and second to keep robots running for an entire match. The battery is capable of extremely high currents, high enough to weld. Battery terminals should be insulated at all times, both on and off the robot. (That is why the rules "highly recommend" you replace your charger clamps with an APP 50 amp plug.) Any electrical point prior to the main breaker is unprotected and therefore can severely damage the battery and it's wiring. Any point after the main breaker could trip the breaker if shorted during a match. Although this year's game may not appear to have potential for a lot of robot interaction, some may occur. You are trying to protect against a wayward piece of metal (your's or someone else's) from contacting the wiring in your robot and tripping off your breaker. The rules do not allow you to go out on the field and reset the breaker during a match.