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Unread 10-07-2009, 19:47
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AKA: Ed Barker
FRC #1311 (Kell Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Rookie Year: 2006
Location: Kennesaw GA
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Re: Solar Battery Plant Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by squirrel View Post
We used one of these

http://www.affordable-solar.com/morn...controller.htmWhat kind of motors/props are you using? trolling motors or something else?

Minn-Kota Endura 30 - 30 lb thrust, 12 VDC, factory props. IFI Control System - 2005 model if I remember correctly. Victor 884 speed controllers. Electronics are contained in a Pentair NEMA fixture.

The motors are 4 wire circuits. A call to their tech support reveals that we cut and cap two wires and connect the other two to the victor.

8020 automation framing attached to lightweight fiberglass, foam, aluminum pontoons.

The pontoons are closed cell polystyrene foam topped with an 0.030" aluminum cap that is shaped in a 2" tall, 10" wide beam.

The cap acts as a beam and binds the automation frame to the pontoons.
The pontoons have a fiberglass skin that is essentially in tension.

If you look at the side of the craft it looks like a bridge structure, the aluminum cap is in tension as the downward force on the legs try to spread. The cap disperses the load across the foam.

The trick was to figure out how to disperse the stress and keep the weight very low. One days we need to make some drawings and explain how the stress work.

Each pontoon is only about 25 or 30 lbs each. A design goal was to be able to carry the machine to a lake that doesn't not have a landing. So the basic machine needs to weight something like a heavy FRC robot. That is asking a lot considering this is 9+ feet long.

We have been working on this for two years now. Construction pictures are here The pictures haven't been updated in a year.
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