Wiring AXIS M1013 to 2015 system

[cakeisajoke]

I have a question regarding wiring the Axis M1013 network camera to the 2015 control system. The camera is rated for 5V@1.5A. The camera will run fine with 5V@2A, which the Voltage Regulator Module supplies. However, the VRM's 5V@2A terminals are reserved for the Wireless Bridge, as stated in R32:

"The Wireless Bridge power must be supplied by the 5V 2A (“Radio”) output of a Cross the Road Electronics Voltage Regulator
Module (VRM) (P/N: am-2857, 217-4245) and must be the only load connected to those terminals."

If the Wireless Bridge is the only load allowed on those terminals, where do we plug in the Axis Camera for power?

[tStano]

I'm struggling with this as well.
I've come up with 2 possible solutions:
1. Buy a second VRM for your camera(Honestly, this VRM seems poorly designed, I can't think of anything I would use any of the ports except the 5V2A for)

2. I'm not entirely sure if this would work, but I think you could use the router power supply from last year plugged directly into a wago on the PDP. That supply is a 12v-5v supply, but the camera requires a very specific voltage and I don't know how good the regulator is in the router power supply.
edit: I looked up the spec sheet for that, says it works from 10-30v, which doesn't sound too promising. I know our batteries get down below 10 during some matches.
Perhaps you could put that thing off the 12V2A rail of the VRM, although I'd advise against it, especially if you're using pneumatics with your compressor PCM plugged into the weidmuller connectors, because your compressor, solenoids, and anything off the VRM will run off a single 20A non-resetting fuse.

[cgmv123]

We just bought a second VRM. You could also reuse the radio power converter from the previous control system and connect it to the 12 V side of the VRM.

[ozrien]

Originally Posted by tStano

I'm struggling with this as well.
I've come up with 2 possible solutions:
1. Buy a second VRM for your camera(Honestly, this VRM seems poorly designed, I can't think of anything I would use any of the ports except the 5V2A for)

2. I'm not entirely sure if this would work, but I think you could use the router power supply from last year plugged directly into a wago on the PDP. That supply is a 12v-5v supply, but the camera requires a very specific voltage and I don't know how good the regulator is in the router power supply.
edit: I looked up the spec sheet for that, says it works from 10-30v, which doesn't sound too promising. I know our batteries get down below 10 during some matches.
Perhaps you could put that thing off the 12V2A rail of the VRM, although I'd advise against it, especially if you're using pneumatics with your compressor PCM plugged into the weidmuller connectors, because your compressor, solenoids, and anything off the VRM will run off a single 20A non-resetting fuse.

The VRM was designed specifically for FIRST use. Teams need 5V and 12V.
Having boosted 5V and 12V is great because of the different radios teams have collected over the years. And they are boosted to tolerate battery voltage drops.

The radio selection changes year-to-year, the VRM allows us to be flexible and support the widest combo of peripherals. Seems like a good design practice to me.

R37 tells us additional (non-radio) VRMs can be connected to the WAGO slots on the PDP. So you don't have to rely on the 20amp fused weidmuller if that's a concern. Seems like a good solution for camera.

[tStano]

Originally Posted by ozrien

The VRM was designed specifically for FIRST use. Teams need 5V and 12V.
Having boosted 5V and 12V is great because of the different radios teams have collected over the years. And they are boosted to tolerate battery voltage drops.

The radio selection changes year-to-year, the VRM allows us to be flexible and support the widest combo of peripherals. Seems like a good design practice to me.

R37 tells us additional (non-radio) VRMs can be connected to the WAGO slots on the PDP. So you don't have to rely on the 20amp fused weidmuller if that's a concern. Seems like a good solution for camera.

It was harsh and wrong of me to say it was a poor design decision, because I don't know the design constraints, but it doesn't make sense for my team.

There are definitely ways around that 20A fuse. It just is something to think about/design around. Its illegal to run the radio and anything else(eg camera) off the 5V2A slot.

The radio selection has been a 5v dlink for quite a while. I know my team, at least, doesn't have anything else(unless you count the IFI CS). It is a good idea to plan for different radio styles, though I would predict its either going to be a d-link or a USB radio in the future, I predict this because the wiring diagram released a while ago showed a USB radio. I could definitely be off base though.

All I'm saying 45$ seems like a lot to spend for a 2A unregulated 12vdc to regulated 5vdc converter. I understand that it does other things, but I don't personally forsee ever having a use for those other things. Other teams might, and more power to them.


I would like something that is just an unregulated 12v to regulated 5v converter for about half the price. I'm searching the internet for one. That has to be a thing you can buy. Maybe not though. maybe thats just what regulators cost; I find that hard to believe though, because of the 10-30v to 5v converter available on andymark for 16$.

Edit: I'm not saying its overpriced for what it is, I'm saying its overpriced for what I would use it for(powering a camera or 5v lights).

[magnets]

I think the VRM is neither poorly designed nor overpriced for what it is. It's a very durable regulator with multiple power supplies that's designed to be sold in small quantities.

However, when we lose functionality going to a new system, it's often quite frustrating to teams, especially considering we have to spend money to purchase the new components. We have fewer relay ports and no access to a 5V supply that can be used to power the camera that has been the default FRC camera for years.

I don't know much about the control system development process, but I hoped that having as many features and being as functional as the previous control system had would be a top priority.

[Ben Wolsieffer]

Originally Posted by tStano

I would like something that is just an unregulated 12v to regulated 5v converter for about half the price.

What about this: http://www.adafruit.com/product/1385

We use one of these to power our Arduino and LED strips, but it should work fine for the camera, and it is only $10.

[tStano]

Originally Posted by lopsided98

What about this: http://www.adafruit.com/product/1385

We use one of these to power our Arduino and LED strips, but it should work fine for the camera, and it is only $10.

That sounds excellent. Thanks!
Its currently out of stock, but I'm sure it'll come back in stock soon.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by tStano

I would like something that is just an unregulated 12v to regulated 5v converter...

Is anything wrong with the CPR-360 power converter you probably already have from past years? If you want to use a new one, AndyMark sells them as the am-0899.

[tStano]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Is anything wrong with the CPR-360 power converter you probably already have from past years? If you want to use a new one, AndyMark sells them as the am-0899.

That's only rated 10-30v; and the camera needs a super specific voltage range. I'm wary of that rating. Our batteries routinely go below 10v at competion. Have you had experience running a camera off that straight off battery voltage?

Edit: I understand I could run that off the 12v rail of a VRM, but then I'm wary of current draw through that 20A fuse with a compressor and solenoids. I understand I could put the compressor on a spike, but I'd rather not because I don't want one more thing to troubleshoot, and we're running low on DIO pins for the pressure switch.

[RufflesRidge]

Originally Posted by tStano

Edit: I understand I could run that off the 12v rail of a VRM, but then I'm wary of current draw through that 20A fuse with a compressor and solenoids. I understand I could put the compressor on a spike, but I'd rather not because I don't want one more thing to troubleshoot, and we're running low on DIO pins for the pressure switch.

You could also put the PCM on a 20A breaker...

[rich2202]

2 of these with heatsinks plus some other basic circuitry will give you 1.5 amps of 5 volts.

http://www.radioshack.com/-5v-fixed-...jF_h4&tab=tab1

I'd rather spend $16 for the AM0899 and direct connect it to the PDP.

[tStano]

Originally Posted by RufflesRidge

You could also put the PCM on a 20A breaker...

Good point, I thought I'd read that that was against the rules somewhere, but I was wrong. Thanks!

[Fauge7]

as far as i know acording to the rules even if you have 2 vrm you can only use the 5v2A for the radio power, as for the camera my team got it to run on the 5v1/2 amp i think, we also burnt out one plugging it into the 12v...teh he