2015 Beta Testing - The Components are Here.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by SteveGarward

Everyone needs to be careful on this one. According to the answer to my question here on the FIRST forums, once you add (separate) power to PWM signals from the MXP, you have an ACTIVE DEVICE.

I think it would be more accurate to say say "once you add an active power supply to PWM signals from the MXP ..."

This does not keep you from supplying 3.3v or 5v from the MXP header or battery voltage from the PDP to the DIO pins, It only keeps you from adding a power supply to add a different voltage.

Originally Posted by SteveGarward

My concern now is for boards that have 'prototyping' area on it - while the board may be passive, does adding components/circuits make it active? Burden of proof at inspection to show it's just sensors etc., or that PWM pins are not controlling anything? Not sure how that will play out yet.

No matter what board you use, if you claim that it is passive, you'll have to prove it at inspection. Not sure how having a prototyping area changes that. An active circuit added to a prototyping area of an otherwise passive board makes it active.