Classmate & Other PC

[AndyB871]

Perhaps this is a silly question, but I have a habit of reading the rules, assuring myself that Idea X is NOT against the rules, proceeding with build season, reaching a few days before build-stop, and then going...


OH MY GOD WAIT DID I READ THE RULES WRONG AND I CANT DO X?

So, in one of those moments, Does the DS HAVE to run on the Classmate? Can I run the DS & Dashboard on our own laptop and leave the classmate home?

I can't track down any rules specific to that, so i figured I'd poke around here to assuage my worries

-Andy

[AndyB871]

Sigh, I answered my question after looking around and clicking on every post but the one that had the answer.


I found it here

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=101839

[R80], blue box, second paragraph says that no power will be available for something other than the Classmate. However, any computing device may be used to host the Driver Station software (well, as long as it can connect to the field via Ethernet--[R81]).

[jcbc]

You do not have to use the Classmate for the driver station. Last season we used a regular laptop for our driver station.

[CalTran]

As said by jcbc, you do not have to use the Classmate for the DS. However, I would be wary of large power drain functions, as there is no available power sources at the station except for a power adapter for the Classmate.

[nickpeq]

Can anyone tell me the specs of the power coming in (volts, amps) and if it would be possible/legal to adapt that to another laptop?

[Mark McLeod]

19v, 2.1a

Check the rules to see if it's exclusively Classmates.

If the rules allow it and your laptop plugs right in, then the field crew might also allow it, but ask permission first so they can check and decide if it's risk-free.
They will probably err on the side of caution and just say no anyway.
They reserve the right to say no, in order to avoid risking damage to the field laptop chargers, or the next team to plug their Classmate into a damaged field charger.

If you're thinking of converting the converter, then please don't.
That can only lead to tears.

[nickpeq]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

If you're thinking of converting the converter, then please don't.
That can only lead to tears.

Fair enough. Not surprisingly, it turns out my laptop charger has much different specs.

slijin has a good idea, but I think i'll just charge between matches with the proper adapter, and pray the battery doesn't drain too quickly.

[slijin]

Originally Posted by nickpeq

if it would be legal to adapt that to another laptop?

This is a question to ask the Q&A.

Alternatively, you could set up a power inverter (like the ones used in cars) and rig that to run off a battery, and just charge the laptop off that while you're queued up.