[FTC]: Anderson Powerpole Question

[GeeTwo]

If you look into the connector from the end opposite the wire, the only metal you should be able to see is the contact (curved piece of metal crimped onto the wire). If you can still see part of the flat spring which is visible in an empty housing, you haven't pushed the contact in far enough.

Also, as far as dovetailing multiple pieces together - with two contacts, the connection is pretty solid even without roll pins or glue. As the cluster gets larger, external forces can create more torque and pull the connectors apart. We have found that as long as the connector is reasonably close to square (e.g. 3x4, not 2x6), a single thin tie wrap around the groove meant for the roll pins is a fair way to keep the connector together, yet allow it to be taken apart later if you need to swap out a motor or other component.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Foster

When you say "come apart" do you mean that the pins pull out of the shell? That's an indication that you haven't pushed the pins into the shell far enough.

If you mean that the two ends that mate come apart it means the pins are not in the shell the right way. There is a curve to them that applies the mating surface pressure.

What size are you using?

I posted this on the 25th, no answer, can you make the connection up and try.

Also no sure on something as simple as Power Poles can drag this long on CD...

[Al Skierkiewicz]

FTC,
The connector pairs should mate with significant friction to hold them together, provided you do not have tension on the wires that will pull them apart. It is possible that you have bent contacts (as shown in the Powerwerx link above.) If the contacts are bent, (or are not free to move within the housing), the contacts will not mate properly. This occurs for two significant reasons. The first is using an improper crimper. This causes the terminal to be bent and will result in a lot of force needed during contact insertion. The second results from soldering the terminal which may result in excess solder causing the same type of misalignment as with improper crimping. While many crimpers will state they can crimp these contacts, only those specifically designed for APP contacts actually do the job.

[FRC Team CC]

Here are the pictures of the Anderson Powerpoles:

It looks like they are inserted correctly. When they are snapped onto another connector, we can hear the click, but they still come apart pretty easily.

[wgardner]

I don't see anything glaringly wrong with your pictures (though the way you're connecting red and black to each other is non-standard). And you're putting the wires in both ends, then connecting both ends, and hearing the click? If that's what you're doing, I don't know what else could be wrong. Are there any local teams you could work with in person?

I've attached a few (poor) photos of some of the powerpoles on one of our robots for comparison.

[FRC Team CC]

Wgardner: Thanks for all of your help.

The Powerpole stay together, but are very loosely connected and can be pulled apart with minimal effort. Looks like we might have to use the forks to keep them together.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by FTC Team CC

Wgardner: Thanks for all of your help.

The Powerpole stay together, but are very loosely connected and can be pulled apart with minimal effort. Looks like we might have to use the forks to keep them together.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

If they don't stay together without additional help, they may not be making good electrical contact, either. Here is a document from the ham radio community that has a bit more detail, including the standard configuration of red-black pairs. The standard mnemonic is "Red Right Tongue Top". With the wires toward you, and the dovetail "tongues" on top, red will be on your right. The pictures shown in the ham doc and in the post by wgardner above are taken from the contact side, so red is on the left when the tongues are on top.

[Foster]

+1

K3FXS here and I've used the above PDF on building my cables. They stick together and they stay together. I'm not sure what you are doing that makes them easy to pull apart. I've had radios suspended by the power pole and they have not fallen.

[FRC Team CC]

Thanks for all of your help. We will post on this thread when we are able to fix the issue.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[RecycledElectro]

Originally Posted by FTC Team CC

Our problem is that the two connectors are not snapping together (the wire clicks into the connector without a problem)

Do You mean that the red and black connectors on one end slide apart easily, or that a pair of red and black slide apart easily from another pair of one red and one black connectors?

Andrew

[Greg Needel]

On a similar topic, anyone know why they used the standard Tamaya connector on the new core power module? Has anyone said if it will be allowed to change that to anderson also.

It seems silly not to have Anderson connectors there, when they are integral to the rest of the system.

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

On a similar topic, anyone know why they used the standard Tamaya connector on the new core power module? Has anyone said if it will be allowed to change that to anderson also.

It seems silly not to have Anderson connectors there, when they are integral to the rest of the system.

I think they kept it as a Tamaya connector because it is the standard for a Tetrix battery.

I know for a fact you are a allowed to convert them at least for last year. It is either in the old manuals or hidden on the FTC forum.

Edit: Check the Game Manual Part 1 Rule 10.c/g

[PHFTC]

This was discussed over on the FTC forums http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/showthre...3534#post13534

and an earlier thread I guess. Completely agree, that's weak point we could be done with!!!!!!!!! Think of how many dissapointments that connector has caused - I bet and order of magnitude more than Samantha.

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

On a similar topic, anyone know why they used the standard Tamaya connector on the new core power module? Has anyone said if it will be allowed to change that to anderson also.

It seems silly not to have Anderson connectors there, when they are integral to the rest of the system.

[skatefriday]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

On a similar topic, anyone know why they used the standard Tamaya connector on the new core power module? Has anyone said if it will be allowed to change that to anderson also.

It seems silly not to have Anderson connectors there, when they are integral to the rest of the system.

It was a cost thing from a manufacturing perspective.

At worlds they had official FTC volunteers in the pits that would swap out
Tamiya connectors for you. FIRST knows and acknowledges
these are problematic. You'll be able to swap in powerpoles
and it's very easy to do.

[timytamy]

Originally Posted by skatefriday

It was a cost thing from a manufacturing perspective.

So it's cheaper to buy and tool for 6x APP + 1x Tamaya than 7x APP???