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Unread 21-03-2008, 07:34
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,795
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Re: 1726 Electric Problem

Ryan,
A good inspector needs to follow a certain size breaker to a certain size wire. 20 amps can be 18 AWG and so on for the larger breakers. So the answer is yes, they need to see the rating on the top. We mark everything with a 3M EIA (10 color smae as resistor color codes) marking tape. It comes in a convenient size dispenser with tape that is only 3/16 wide. It is a little pricey at $30 but worth every penny when looking for a problem.
The position on the breaker panel is marked with a color relating to a particular load. The breaker has the same color as does the wire(s) leading to the Victor or Spike and so also the wire leading from the Victor or Spike to the load. We also mark the Victor fan or the top of the Spike and the device it is controlling. Finally, we mark the RC output and the PWM cable with the same color. That way if the RED motor is not running we look to see if the RED fan on a Victor is not turning, then we look to see if the red breaker is in place at the RED position on the breaker panel. If The RED Victor fan is turning we then check to see if the RED PWM is inserted at both ends. All of this can be accomplished without referrring to documentation. Even the chassis is marked for our drive motors and steering motors. Likewise the pneumatic cylinders and the valves. We can even figure out problems on past robots without docs. Thanks to a former Motorola engineer who I shared electrical with many years ago, Steve Tine, we have been using his idea ever since.

BTW, we also produce a spreadsheet (in color) that lists all of this info for all devices including sensors, motors and valves so that software, hardware and electrical sub teams are all "on the same page".
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.

Last edited by Al Skierkiewicz : 21-03-2008 at 07:41.