Tips for new 'Head of Electronics'

[AustinNordman]

Communicate with the design team and demand enough room for well-organized electronics. The lack of electronics space on our 2013 robot is still an in-joke on my team.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by AustinNordman

Communicate with the design team and demand enough room for well-organized electronics. The lack of electronics space on our 2013 robot is still an in-joke on my team.

On one of the teams I've been on, there was a space joke that went something like this...

"But [electrical mentor], we gave you three times as much space as last year!"
"Three times zero is still zero."

"Last year", in this case, was about a foot high, standard footprint at the time, and had cutouts on both ends and a hefty turret in the center. The robot under discussion had to go into the sizing box at an angle, and didn't take up the entire floor, but because it was taller, the team was able to use a two-to-three deck layout.

[Holo3453]

1. Keep wiring clean and easily accessible
2. If your are coding too. Keep code nice and organized
3. Stay updated on Firmware updates and rule changes
4. Use proper gauge wire, it says which one to use in the manual for the control system

Electronics Head is a lot of fun. I direct electronics on my team. Without electronics the robot is just a pile of metal, you bring it to life.

[ATannahill]

This is coming from a former electrical lead and CSA.

1. Read the robot rules within three days of kickoff (don't post question to CD unless you have read all pertinent rules). Read to understand. After each rule think about what the ramification of the rule is and why the GDC included it.
2. Read any source you can find for the hardware you are using. Read the screensteps, manuals for the electronics, including the batteries.
3. Read the team updates and Q&A. This takes less than 15 minutes twice a week, it is worthwhile to make sure you understand the rules and the changes. Again, read to understand.
4. Keep everything organized. I think the thread has hit this enough.
5. Do an inspection check at the end of the season. Go through the inspection checklist (posted mid to late build season), preferably with someone else. Make sure to pay attention to the power routes for the radio, RoboRIO and PCM (if you are using it).
6. Check with your mentors/other team leaders to make sure the electrical system is properly represented on the BOM/CAW. Make sure to check the rules (and Q&A) about if items from the kit need to be listed.
7. Make sure all connections are secure. Push down on the red and yellow fuse in the PDP (I have pushed them until I had an imprint of them on my finger and the lexan the board was mounted on was bending and still not had them in all the way).

Always remember that you are working as part of a team. You cannot succeed unless the rest of the team does as well. It can be helpful for you to nudge other sections of the team and remind them of things they may not have noticed or may have forgotten. Commons items include creating the CAW, updating firmware, changes that were made in team updates and reviewing the inspection check list.

[jajabinx124]

Originally Posted by AustinNordman

Communicate with the design team and demand enough room for well-organized electronics.

This. Communication is the biggest piece of advice from me. The design team will change the room given for electronics on the robot frequently during build season, so communicate with them and adjust/keep up on those changes. Don't make changes to the electronic system or start working on it without the approval or agreement of the design team otherwise your work will be wasted.

While we are all in a hurry near the end of build season, take your time while wiring... it pays off when your team doesn't encounter shorts, bad crimps, etc. that hinder your robot performance later on.

[Hgree56]

After three years as the Electrical Director of our team, the most important thing I have learned is: Do NOT solder over electronics!!!!

We had to solder something on our robot this year right before Elims and we lost our first match because we got solder in our RoboRIO. Don't do that!!

And Congrats on your role with your team! Good luck this up coming season!

[lorykzarr]

If you can afford it, try getting some wire trough from a local industrial supplier. It lets you very easily hide large bundles of wire and allows you to route all of your wires through one area. Also, if you have bad wire strippers, use a reasonably sharp boxcutter/knife to strip wires. Extend the blade a decent amount, hold the wire you want to strip on your thumb and roll it around on the blade until the insulation is cut. Then you can pull the stuff off. It works great for most wire sizes.

[Lireal]

I just wanted to add that, if you don't already have one, get an automatic wire stripper. We got this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002K...L&ref=plSr ch

It was the best $10 we spent all season

[philso]

1) Have the person making the connections do a pull test after each and every connection is made. No exceptions.

2) Have each person check their own work after they do it. Make it known that they should not be passing on their work until they have ensured that it is totally error free.

3) Ensure the layout of the components allows #1 and #2 above (see Austin and Thadeus' posts).

4) Have someone on the team who is meticulous and thorough check that all the connections are correct and do a pull test on each and every connection afterward. Make it known that everyone's work will be checked by someone else and it is expected that no errors should be found.

5) If you have non-ratcheting crimpers, throw them in the trash NOW.