Hows your electronics board?

[FusionDude364]

We havent started on our electrical board for this years robot yet, the mechanical guys arent yet to a point where we can, but we are doin work on our robot from last year. We use last years robot as something to show the public when we go somewhere and at school functions such as football games. We put a tshirt cannon on it so we can shoot tshirts into the crowds at football games and pep rallies. Our electronics worked last year but the inside of our robot looked like a spaghetti bomb went off in it. We gutted the inside and are redoing the wiring and pneumatics how we want to so it will be neat, and we dont have to worry about weight either, which is nice. It is also a great chance to teach new people how to do the wiring on the robots and let them practice at it.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Justin_302

We called our elecronics board a "poo poo platter". That has changed this year. We are now sticking all of our electronics in a 12inx18in box. It is a REAL tight fit for 7 of the Victors, 2 spikes, the computer, and breaker panel.

Justin,
I hope your electrical box is open on the top or has a clear cover. IFI needs to see the LEDs on your controller is something should go wrong. It has not been a rule in the past but if you want help, people need to see the controller to help.

[phrontist]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Eric,
I know this sounds bad but we don't make an electronics board. In order to fit everything in with mechanical systems, we will distribute the parts around the robot for best weight distribution and ease of replacement. We do work with a couple of standard rules though.
1) Wiring from battery to connector to main breaker to fuse panel is as short as it can be.
2) Victors are generally placed close to the motor they control when practical.
3) All connections are crimped, then soldered, then heatshrink is applied.
4) Wiring in general takes the shortest path.
5) All wiring, all controls, all motors, and all PWM cables are color coded.
6) All wiring is secured in place.
7) All wiring is inspected by several team members before power is applied in breaker out.
8) Breakers are added to test individual circuits.

How does this help get more power to components? I don't follow at all...

Aren't you still running more cable...

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by phrontist

How does this help get more power to components? I don't follow at all...

Aren't you still running more cable...

Generally, we are running the minimum length of wire for each circuit. There is no wasted lengths going to and from geometrically mounted components. Additionally, the wiring is more open and free to air cool when not bundled. Every stage of wiring is designed to reduce series resistances to an absolute minimum. As each motor appears as an inductor (see the discussion and waveforms in this thread http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...light=inductor)
series resistance just serves to limit the current available to the motor. Series resistance can be introduced by bad crimps, long wires, loose screws, bad breakers, speed controllers and warm motors.

[Justin_302]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Justin,
I hope your electrical box is open on the top or has a clear cover. IFI needs to see the LEDs on your controller is something should go wrong. It has not been a rule in the past but if you want help, people need to see the controller to help.

yeah, we are going to cover it with a 1/4 piece of clear poly.