9 motors too much?

[NyCityKId]

So for most teams its "panic now" time and it just really hit me that my team is using 9 motors in all for our robot (4 for drive and 5 for the arm). I was wondering if any other team was using 9 or more motors. Because right now I'm having nightmares of of the 120 amp APP CB tripping . I would feel a lot better if there are other teams using 9 or more motors.

[Henry Williams]

We are only using 7 (4 drive and 3 for arm/lift). I don't think any of our past designs used any more, some also used pneumatics to supplement that but still...

[CidTeach]

6 on our "little" guy. i wouldn't worry about the # of motors, so long as they were/are being used within design spec. I use that phrase loosely, because FRC is worse than GM/Ford/etc proving grounds.
Also look at which are being used for what. will they all be powered simultaneously?

Design, create, re-design, band-aids, rinse and repeat.

[Jacob Paikoff]

That is actually the exact number we are using and they are set up the same way(4 drive, 5 arm).

In my five years in FIRST the most motors that I have every used before this year was 8 and we never had a battery problem and we have never poped the 120 amp main breaker,ever.

[sanddrag]

8 motors and 2 or 3 pneumatic cylinders here.

[Vikesrock]

2175 will have at least 8 (6 drive, 2 manipulator) + at least 2 pneumatic cylinders. Minibot deployment is likely going to add another cylinder or 2.

3573 is keeping simple, 5 motors total (2 drive, 2 arm, 1 minibot deployment).

[thefro526]

We're currently using 7 motors: 4 CIMs, 2 RS775s, and 1 RS550/540 and 3 Pneumatic Cylinders. There is a possibility of us adding another motor or two in the coming weeks, but it's unlikely.

Considering that some teams are going to have 6 motors + in their drives this year, I think you're doing okay.

[Carrington]

11 Motors and 10 Pneumatic Cylinders.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Andre,
Since the 120 amp breaker was introduced, I think I can count on one hand the number of tripped main breakers I have seen or were told about. Of those, I suspect most were due to defective breaker or some other catastrophic failure. The 120 amp breaker can withstand over 600 amps for several seconds before trip.

[Andrew Schreiber]

4 Drive, 4 Arm. 3 pneumatic cylinders. Plus Minibot deployment.

[MrForbes]

We have 4 drive motors, and one arm motor, and one claw cylinder. We're working on getting another motor to actuate the minibot. Since it seems to take us a week or two to mount one motor and get it operating, I don't see us having more than 6

[cmwilson13]

it is unlikely the internal resistance of the battery is to high to deliver 120 amps unless you physically get a short. we had 10 motors on our 2009 bot and never blew the breaker we ran at 6-7 volts though.

[davidthefat]

3: 2 for drive and 1 for arm.

[Bob Steele]

You should be fine... normally the big drains...(the drive motors) won't be operating during the lift/arm motion... and even if they do the 120 A breaker can handle much more for short periods...

We are using 8 motors and 8 pneumatic cylinders ...
so far... (not counting the minibot.)

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Andre,
Since the 120 amp breaker was introduced, I think I can count on one hand the number of tripped main breakers I have seen or were told about. Of those, I suspect most were due to defective breaker or some other catastrophic failure. The 120 amp breaker can withstand over 600 amps for several seconds before trip.

We tripped one once in 2006.

We had the four drive CIMs, and the big CIM, and the compressor and a pair of FPs running non-stop through 4 pretty darn close to back-to-back elimination matches. There was lots of pushing and shoving, plus our "ramp wiggle" to get into position involved "walking" the robot by cocking it and then running it into the drivers station over and over (which kept the CIMs fairly close to stall)

It actually took us a couple of minutes to find the problem, we didn't think it was possible to pop it under regular robot use!

OP, I've seen more than 9 motors on an FRC robot. I think you're okay.