Steampunk wiring - wiring color

[tr6scott]

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/s...d.php?t=109855

FIRST and the inspectors, are pretty set on the rules.

A couple of years ago, we wired our dc motor power with black wire with yellow tracers, and the inspectors at Waterford made us cover the yellow tracer with black tape during inspection.

I work in industrial controls, we are panel build shop, and I have access to a bunch of wire, that is donated to the team, so I like to use tracer colors to segregate function and amperage loads, but after that, we stick with red and black.

Don't poke the bear.

[Team34Guy]

Originally Posted by Ed Sparks

Please don't make an already difficult job unbearable ........ Color coding is there for a reason and you shouldn't poke bears with a sharp stick.

I wondered when you would weigh in on this.

After our own wiring snafu last season... I, for one, am not going to risk poking bears with sticks this year

[tjf]

As said by others, it's probably best to not poke the bear. Sleeving would likely be your safest bet.

However, it's an odd thing to note that FRC doesn't always follow standards to the letter. Battery connectors (Anderson SB50s) are traditionally red for 24V and yellow for 12V. FRC teams use red on everything (on every robot I've ever seen, with the exception of grey for pneumatics.)

[Foster]

Originally Posted by tjf

However, it's an odd thing to note that FRC doesn't always follow standards to the letter. Battery connectors (Anderson SB50s) are traditionally red for 24V and yellow for 12V. FRC teams use red on everything (on every robot I've ever seen, with the exception of grey for pneumatics.)

I didn't know there is a "standard", thanks.

Yellow - 12v
Orange - 18v
Red - 24v
Gray - 36v
Blue - 48v
Green - 72v
Black - 80v
Brown - 96v
Purple - 120v
White - 144v

[Logan Byers]

Originally Posted by Foster

I didn't know there is a "standard", thanks.

Yellow - 12v
Orange - 18v
Red - 24v
Gray - 36v
Blue - 48v
Green - 72v
Black - 80v
Brown - 96v
Purple - 120v
White - 144v

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

As for following standards:

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Logan Byers

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

No rule, but SB-50 connectors are keyed by color. So a purple one wouldn't fit a red one. (Pink is an exception, presumably so donated connectors are obvious.)

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Logan Byers

Note: Those colors are for the Anderson connectors specifically, not the wire colors (which is the OP's focus). As far as I remember, I've never seen a rule dictating specific connector coloring for FIRST robots.

The SB50 data sheet notes that black and grey housings have matching keys; other colors will not cross mate. If you use anything other than red (or pink, which is a special connector with the same keying as red) they will not mate with batteries or connectors of other teams, or standard chargers. They are not illegal as far as I have read, but I would strongly discourage using anything but red or pink SB50s.

[snorthey]

What if you spray painted a wiring wrap... not the wiring... like the cord keeper... and other devices like the zip ties...

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by snorthey

What if you spray painted a wiring wrap... not the wiring... like the cord keeper... and other devices like the zip ties...

Sorry, but not at all secific enough. Why, and what colors would you spray over other colors?

And then, remember the whole point of color coding - so that people KNOW what voltage/polarity/signal the wire is carrying. If your spray paint obscures or miselads people as to what is going on, my advice is DON'T DO IT, even if it is legal under the letter of the game manual.

[IKE]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Sorry, but not at all secific enough. Why, and what colors would you spray over other colors?

And then, remember the whole point of color coding - so that people KNOW what voltage/polarity/signal the wire is carrying. If your spray paint obscures or miselads people as to what is going on, my advice is DON'T DO IT, even if it is legal under the letter of the game manual.

This might be going a bit too cautious. Any color of loom applied makes it difficult to do a wire trace, but have not generally been illegal. Often those get kudos for such a neat wiring job. I suspect that loom/wrap will continue to not be illegal.

A couple of words of caution:
If you paint the loom, make sure you find a flexible enough paint. Otherwise it will tend to chip and flake. I have seen this a lot on harnesses outside of robotics. While it looks cool initially, the flaking of paint can make it look trashy later on.

Use wire labels or indicators to help trace your wires if you are using wiring loom. This can also help if you make a wiring diagram which will get you browny points towards things like Quality award.

[pmangels17]

Before you go through all sorts of fun coloring and sheathing (which can be perfectly acceptable and often really nice looking), make sure to ask yourself:

Are the aesthetic changes I am about to make going to impact the functional performance or maintainability of the robot?

All the strange colored wires might be fun and all, and the paint could be wonderful, but I'm willing to wager a corndog that there are reasons other than the rules themselves that the Cheesy Poofs paint everything on their robot except the wires. (And electronics, etc)