Hot Glue Legal to Glue PWM cables ?

[de_]

We used to use a hot glue gun to stick in pwm cables that were prone to coming out. Someone said there was a rule last year that would not allow that. I could never find it. Is there such a rule this year ?

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by de_

We used to use a hot glue gun to stick in pwm cables that were prone to coming out. Someone said there was a rule last year that would not allow that. I could never find it. Is there such a rule this year ?

I believe a rule like R55 was the issue last year.
The bolded section I believe now allows hot glue, but I am not an official source and I would Q&A this just to be sure.

Originally Posted by Rules

R55 The Driver Station software, roboRIO, Power Distribution Panel, Pneumatics Control Modules, Voltage Regulator Modules, RSL,
120A breaker, motor controllers, relay modules, Wireless Bridge, and batteries shall not be tampered with, modified, or adjusted
in any way (tampering includes drilling, cutting, machining, rewiring, disassembling, etc.), with the following exceptions:
A. User programmable code in the roboRIO may be customized.
B. Motor controllers may be calibrated as described in owner’s manuals.
C. Fans may be attached to motor controllers and may be powered from the power input terminals.
D. If powering the compressor, the fuse on a Spike H-Bridge Relay may be replaced with a 20A Snap-Action circuit breaker.
E. Wires, cables, and signal lines may be connected via the standard connection points provided on the devices.
F. Fasteners (including adhesives) may be used to attach the device to the OPERATOR CONSOLE or ROBOT or to secure
cables to the device.
G. Thermal interface material may be used to improve heat conduction.
H. Labeling may be applied to indicate device purpose, connectivity, functional performance, etc.
I. Jumpers may be changed from their default location.
J. Limit switch jumpers may be removed from a Jaguar motor controller and a custom limit switch circuit may be substituted.
K. Device firmware may be updated.
L. Integral wires on the Victor SP or Talon SRX may be cut, stripped, and/or connectorized.
M. Devices may be repaired, provided the performance and specifications of the device after the repair are identical to those
before the repair.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

The bolded section I believe now allows hot glue, but I am not an official source and I would Q&A this just to be sure.

Did you bold the wrong section?

R55 The Driver Station software, roboRIO, Power Distribution Panel, Pneumatics Control Modules, Voltage Regulator Modules, RSL,
120A breaker, motor controllers, relay modules, Wireless Bridge, and batteries shall not be tampered with, modified, or adjusted
in any way (tampering includes drilling, cutting, machining, rewiring, disassembling, etc.), with the following exceptions:
A. User programmable code in the roboRIO may be customized.
B. Motor controllers may be calibrated as described in owner’s manuals.
C. Fans may be attached to motor controllers and may be powered from the power input terminals.
D. If powering the compressor, the fuse on a Spike H-Bridge Relay may be replaced with a 20A Snap-Action circuit breaker.
E. Wires, cables, and signal lines may be connected via the standard connection points provided on the devices.
F. Fasteners (including adhesives) may be used to attach the device to the OPERATOR CONSOLE or ROBOT or to secure
cables to the device.
G. Thermal interface material may be used to improve heat conduction.
H. Labeling may be applied to indicate device purpose, connectivity, functional performance, etc.
I. Jumpers may be changed from their default location.
J. Limit switch jumpers may be removed from a Jaguar motor controller and a custom limit switch circuit may be substituted.
K. Device firmware may be updated.
L. Integral wires on the Victor SP or Talon SRX may be cut, stripped, and/or connectorized.
M. Devices may be repaired, provided the performance and specifications of the device after the repair are identical to those
before the repair.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Ether

Did you bold the wrong section?

No ... But your section is far more correct

[FrankJ]

R64 from last years manual was interpreted to mean no hot glue on the motor controller.

R64 The Driver Station software, cRIO, Power Distribution Board, Digital Sidecars, Analog Breakouts, Solenoid Breakouts, RSL, 120A breaker, motor controllers, relay modules, Wireless Bridge, 12VDC-5VDC converter, and batteries shall not be tampered with, modified, or adjusted in any way (tampering includes drilling, cutting, machining, gluing, rewiring, disassembling, etc.), with the following exceptions:

R55 is the equivalent rule from this years rules. Note the missing gluing prohibition.

R55 The Driver Station software, roboRIO, Power Distribution Panel, Pneumatics Control Modules, Voltage Regulator Modules, RSL,
120A breaker, motor controllers, relay modules, Wireless Bridge, and batteries shall not be tampered with, modified, or adjusted
in any way (tampering includes drilling, cutting, machining, rewiring, disassembling, etc.), with the following exceptions:

I think it is safe to say that First's LRI (Al) continues to think that it is a poor practice & there are better solutions. Other disagree on this point. Don't fill you motor controller with hot glue.

And I need to learn to type faster.

[MrRoboSteve]

Preferred solution here is to place a cable tie base near the termination of the PWM cable, and tie it down so it doesn't move.

If it still comes out, a small piece of quality electrical tape should be enough to hold it in place. A giant gob of tape just makes it difficult to inspect whether it's connected.

[IKE]

Check out this Blog post for a really neat idea:
http://wildstang.org/blog/?p=225

[de_]

Thanks so much for the clarification. Its nice to know that we have that tool available should the need be there and no better solution was at hand.

[Sperkowsky]

I believe this was in the inspection thread.Its legal but......

Dont do it.

3d print the cable magic if you want to make them fit tighter. or solder it if you want to fix the cable but imo hot glue is not good near electronics

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

I believe this was in the inspection thread.Its legal but......

Dont do it.

3d print the cable magic if you want to make them fit tighter. or solder it if you want to fix the cable but imo hot glue is not good near electronics

There is absolutely nothing wrong with hot gluing pwm connectors down. It will not harm them unless you actually touch the tip of the glue gun to the insulation on the wire.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by Cory

There is absolutely nothing wrong with hot gluing pwm connectors down. It will not harm them unless you actually touch the tip of the glue gun to the insulation on the wire.

correct me if Im wrong but couldnt the hotglue insulate the contacts and ruin the rio when you try to take it off.

[pmangels17]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

correct me if Im wrong but couldnt the hotglue insulate the contacts and ruin the rio when you try to take it off.

You may be overestimating the amount of hot glue needed to secure the cables. All that is needed is a small (less than pea sized) dab to hold the connector in place. Any more and it's probably overboard.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by pmangels17

You may be overestimating the amount of hot glue needed to secure the cables. All that is needed is a small (less than pea sized) dab to hold the connector in place. Any more and it's probably overboard.

probably....I tend to have a heavy trigger finger

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I can only reiterate, if you think about this a little you can up with a solution that is less permanent than hot glue and less damaging when applied by someone who does not do this for a living. You really need to walk around with me for a few events and see the horror I see inflicted by teams.
If you glue it in and it fails, you may not be able to replace it fast enough on Einstein. Just saying...

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

...a solution that is less permanent than hot glue...

Maybe you're used to a different sort of hot glue. The kind I am familiar with is far from permanent when used on something non-porous like plastic. It is easily removed from both connectors and Victors with a fingernail. We're not talking red Loctite here.