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Unread 18-02-2009, 07:32
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
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Re: Weird issue with the power distribution block

When you push a robot, the motors begin to act like a generator. The speed controllers (both Victors and Jaguars) use power FETs that have a diode internal to the devices. As you generate current in the motors, that current forward biases the diodes in the FETs and since they are in a bridge configuration, power is back fed to the electrical system. There is no way you can generate enough current to back feed a full 12 volts to the system, but you can generate enough to light some LEDs and make it look like you have an electrical problem. All of this is normal.
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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.