Speed Controllers

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Posted by Nick .

Student on team #240, Mach V, from Jefferson Monroe High School and Visteon.

Posted on 10/17/2000 2:21 PM MST



Inside the gray box we have a broken speed controller. I'm having trouble finding the problem without
taking it apart (cutting Barloks/zip ties). I think the whole unit may be bad, are we allowed to replace the
entire thing if it is? Or will you guys send us a new one? Also I was disappointed in the grey boxes.
Many of the PWM prongs were bent and things were unplugged. But I do like the competition port
switch, neat idea!

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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 10/17/2000 6:16 PM MST


In Reply to: Speed Controllers posted by Nick on 10/17/2000 2:21 PM MST:



Nick,

Sorry if something slipped through our quality control. I assure you that every box was tested several times before shipping. Must have happened after we did the testing.

As to the bent pins, this is troubling because we went to a LOT of bother to get things fixed after a number of the controllers last year took more of damage than we had thought possible.

Installation of the battery seemed to be a major cause of trouble.

As to the exact damage and a workable solution to get you running, please call me. We will make a decision then. 248.696.5672

Joe J.

P.S. Note to all teams. Be careful installing & removing batteries. We can't afford the number of repairs we had to perform last year again this year. JJ

[archiver]

Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 10/17/2000 6:28 PM MST


In Reply to: Speed Controllers posted by Nick on 10/17/2000 2:21 PM MST:



'... But I do like the competition port switch, neat idea!' Nick

Thanks, we like them too.

They are new this year. We really need them this year because only channel 40 is accessable without the dongle. Last year, the beta firmware from Innovation First allowed access many more practice channels without the need of a dongle. With the dongles teams will be able to practice with each other on the practice field in the pits.

BUT... The main reason we included them in the kit was that we wanted more teams to make them and use them on their FIRST robots. We really believe that everybody involved in FIRST wins if teams share their 'best practices' with each other.

This is one practice that I think more teams should adopt. The ability to disable our robot quickly and reliably has saved our robot (and our pit crew) on a number of occasions.

Here is to more teams sharing what they know with the whole FIRST community.

Joe J..