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Unread 26-11-2002, 09:46
Andy A. Andy A. is offline
Getting old
FRC #0095
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,018
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How do we organize our electrical stuff?

Very very poorly. But these tips might help.

First, you need a dedicated work space for only eletrical jobs. A work bench with a peg board is really useful. It gives you lots of space to work and keeps your tools out were you can see them. Get some see through jewlery/tackle boxes and put all your heat shrink, connectors, solder etc. in them. Spools of wire should be held together with zipties and hung on a peg when not in use. Speaking of zip ties, find a safe easy to access place for them. When in doubt, zip tie it shut. Keep a trash bin near by. Every day, go through whats on the bench, if your not using it get it off the bench. It's a huge waste to have a work stoppage because theres to much clutter on your bench to find that part you need.

Get some sort of large padded box. Bubble wrap stuck to the inside of shoe box works fine. Put your radios, IF controllers, victors and spikes in there. Keep this box on the top shelf of a secure closet or otherwise safe spot. You'll have several thousand dollers worth the electrical equipment in that box, take good care of it.

When you're in the pits, invest in a large tackle box. Fill it with a large selection of your supplys. This will let you carry everything you need to make 90% of the electrical problems your ever likley to face. The majority of fixes in the pit are going to be redoing a crimp that's pulled out. However, you may have to resolder some senors back into the right pins or something equally delecate and difficult. So be prepared, this means having all your eletrical diagrams with you and some one who can reprogram the bot in a hurry. Remember that the control board is also electrical, and just as prone to wires coming loose. Be ready to fix it after it gets dropped (it always always does).

Keep connectors color coded and genders right next to each other, never ever mixed. When your in a rush, male and female look the same and you won't find out till after you've crimped the mistake. Use colored eletrical tape to mark all of your tools.

Establish a naming method for batterys. It should clearly show how old the battery is, what it's purpose is (testing, competition) and who is in charge of it. For instance, 0102AA test, would show that it was first charged in January (01) 2002 (02) and Andy A. is in charge of keeping it charged and not lost. It's primary purpose is for testing. Some teams go so far as to keep track of every charge cycle of a battery. In any event, get a sturdy bag big enough to hold 2 batterys.

The most important thing is to clearly establish who is in charge of organizing this stuff (our team has several people who's main job is logistics). If some one isn't on the electrical crew and has no reason to be working at that bench, kick them out. You have to be der electrical furher. It saves time, money, hassle and results in higher quality work.

Bottem line- What ever you chose to do, stick to it and make sure everyone is well aware of your system.

-Andy
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