"Black Box" Electrical Board

[EricH]

Originally Posted by FireAmpersand

2. The idea is like the picture but on a bigger scale, I plan to make it so we build the box once that way for every season we just do minor upgrades or replacements and don't do much to it.

There are some rules that would require building a new one every year. Not the least of which happens to be the fact that the robot design changes every year! That being said, building a new box on the same design would appear to be legal. At least under the 2015 rules.

3. Do the lights need to be seen just at inspection or all the time? If its all the time we can make the top out of some see through material.

I'd just make it out of see-through material. And here's why: It can make troubleshooting a LOT easier if you see all the lights! Inspection only needs to see a few, at inspection--but we'll generally expect to see them as the robot would be on the field. If that means opening the top of the box, you'll probably get a comment, but you'll probably also pass.

4. We do have a Electrical Tech as a mentor, he can makes sure everything is snug and safe for the box. The best part with 15 pin plugs is most of them can only go a certain way so anyone can plug them in.

As long as you aren't using 15-pin plugs for the power to the motors (or they happen to be for the appropriate wire gauge, which would be one NASTY 15-pin)! This is where Anderson connectors come in handy: you can build them into bricks of varying sizes, and match them exactly--say, 40A wires in one, 30A in another, 20A in a third... or should that be drive motors in one, manipulator motors in another? Pick something that makes sense. Makes life really nice, or so I hear. (I haven't had occasion to do that and pull the plug, at this time.)

If all goes well i can also post a picture for people to comment on so that we can make sure this is legal for comp.

Just for some clarification: You won't be sure until you get to your first official event of the season. Anything said on CD needs to be taken with a grain of salt. (Even if Al says it--though if Al says it, it's almost certain to be accurate.)