It sounds like you already have some good ideas
Whatever you decide to use, make sure to check it against section 8.3.6 Power Distribution in the rulebook. Pay special attention to the following:
Quote:
<R42>
The 12V battery, the main 120-amp circuit breaker, and the Power Distribution Board shall be connected as shown in Figure 8-6. In particular:
A.
The battery must be connected to the ROBOT power system through the use of the Anderson Power Products (APP) connector.
B.
The APP connector must be attached to the battery with either the copper lugs provided in the FCI Burndy Bag or appropriate lug connectors.
C.
The battery terminals and the connecting lugs must be insulated with shrink tubing and/or electrical tape.
D.
The main 120-amp circuit breaker must be directly connected to the hot (+) leg of the ROBOT-side APP connector. Only one 120 amp main circuit breaker is allowed. This breaker must not be bypassed.
E.
The Power Distribution Board must be directly connected to the APP connector and main 120-amp circuit breaker. No other loads may be connected to the main 120-amp circuit breaker.
F.
Each primary power connection between the battery and Power Distribution Board must be made with 6 AWG red and black wire or larger.
G.
Circuit breakers must be accessible for inspection at each FIRST Robotics Competition event.
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The way i read this rule (which is perhaps open to interpretation) is that you can't have any intermediate connectors between the battery, the 120 amp breaker, and the power distribution board.
Quote:
<R45>
All active Power Distribution Board branch circuits shall be wired with appropriately sized wire:
A.
12 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for all circuits protected by a 40A circuit breaker.
B.
14 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for all circuits protected by a 30A circuit breaker.
C.
18 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for all circuits protected by a 20A circuit breaker.
D.
20 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for the power connection between the Power Distribution Board and the cRIO Mobile Device Controller.
E.
20 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for the power connection between the Power Distribution Board and the Linksys Wireless Bridge
F.
20 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for the power connections between the Power Distribution Board and the Analog Breakouts and/or Solenoid Breakout if individual power feeds are used. 18 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used if a common power feed is used for multiple breakouts.
G.
24 AWG or larger diameter wire must be used for providing power to pneumatic valves.
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Basically, ensure that all wires (even those in ribbon cables) are of the proper gauge for the load they are carrying.
Other than that, i can't find any place in the manual that expressly prohibits the use of intermediary connectors for other wiring. Any connectors you do use should be rated appropriately for the maximum load they can provide, and it would be a good idea to keep data sheets for those connectors on hand in case the inspectors question their rating or safety (which is unlikely if you used the proper connectors).
In the past, our team hasn't used any off the shelf cables for the robot, other than those required to use (programming, tether, radio serial cables in past years, ethernet this year). In the past, we've used braided wire sleeving, which is readily available in many diameters and allows you to construct your own organized cables from your own wire.