First Choice 2013

[McGurky]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Got in for a second order; ordered one (1) new compressor, four (4) Clippard plastic volume tanks, and three (3) 24v Solenoid kits. Order seems to have processed fine. Our team now has three (3) FIRST Choice points left. And no, we do not want a backwards DB37 ribbon cable.

Are aware that it is fairly simple to fix the cable to no longer be "backwards"?

http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...structions.pdf

[F22Rapture]

Originally Posted by McGurky

Are aware that it is fairly simple to fix the cable to no longer be "backwards"?

http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...structions.pdf

Or you could just use the equivalent non-ribbon cable, which IIRC is also on FIRST Choice.

http://www.andymark.com/FIRST-Choice-p/fc13-096.htm

[Littleboy]

Exactly why are they made backwards? What is the purpose of that?

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by Littleboy

Exactly why are they made backwards? What is the purpose of that?

It was an error in manufacturing, all ribbon cables we got last(?) season had to be repaired after teams opened the kits of parts.

Or you could just use the equivalent non-ribbon cable, which IIRC is also on FIRST Choice.

http://www.andymark.com/FIRST-Choice-p/fc13-096.htm

A lot of teams prefer the ribbon solution as it takes up a lot less vertical space, and if the big stiff connector gets hit hard enough from the side I bet some pins are gonna get bent/broken

[jason701802]

What happened to the team 5000 login (i.e. the viewing only account)? Is there another way to keep track of stock for those who don't have a login yet or just don't have access to it? There's a non-login page to see whats avaliable, but it doesn't show stock beyond in/out of stock.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by F22Rapture

Or you could just use the equivalent non-ribbon cable, which IIRC is also on FIRST Choice.

I think his point is that he has 3 credits remaining and chose not to order the only item available for that number of credits.

Originally Posted by jason701802

Is there another way to keep track of stock for those who don't have a login yet or just don't have access to it?

Can't help you long term, but here's today's remaining stock.

[IndySam]

These Fluke meters have been offered for three years and I can't for the life of me understand why teams don't snap them up. These are $200 meters and I think most teams would benefit from getting one.

Also those Festo valves are a high value item and even if you don't use them you can always trade them to another team for something you could.

[Jon Stratis]

Agreed, those meters are great. We got one last year, and were thinking of getting another one this year... until we found out one of our sponsors was "retiring" some and would donate them instead of throwing them away

[Mark McLeod]

Anyone using the PDV's yet?
Bimba seems to be open for the free 3 cylinder order, too.

Statement of interest on the Banebot site:

The RS-390, RS-395, RS-540, RS-545, RS-550, and RS-775 motors listed on this page are legal for FIRST use.

Should we believe them?

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

Anyone using the PDV's yet?
Bimba seems to be open for the free order, too.

Statement of interest on the Banebot site:

Should we believe them?

I hope so... otherwise we'll run into quite a few problems at inspection from teams that saw that and didn't bother to verify with the rulebook!

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

I hope so... otherwise we'll run into quite a few problems at inspection from teams that saw that and didn't bother to verify with the rulebook!

I bet there are a good number of teams <points to self> that want to get a jump on Banebots infamous shipping times by ordering now. The PDV code is already on TIMS, so if FIRST changes its mind they're likely to end up with even more unhappy customers on the hands.


On that note though, I'd like to thank FIRST for everything they're doing to compensate for FIRST Choice. I'm disappointed (I'm sure they are too) that it came to this, but my, are they trying to make up for it. I'm impressed. I'm also afraid to think about how much the compensation offer is costing them.

[FrankJ]

Got the meter. Also got the cable. It is going to be an intelligence test for the electrical crew. Which plug do you reverse? Or do you be safe & do both of them to be sure you got the right one?

[jason701802]

Originally Posted by IndySam

These Fluke meters have been offered for three years and I can't for the life of me understand why teams don't snap them up. These are $200 meters and I think most teams would benefit from getting one.

Also those Festo valves are a high value item and even if you don't use them you can always trade them to another team for something you could.

The Fluke is possible to find for ~$115 (interesting coincidence) and pretty easy to find for ~$135. We got one each of the last two years and we would have gotten a lot more (to replace the freebee Harbor Freight multimeter used in our physics classes) if they weren't limited to one per team. I can't imagine most teams would need more than two and if they're trying to get stuff to resell, the graphics cards have a greater $/credit ratio.