Only two batteries allowed this year?

[generalbrando]

I don't agree it's that clear. I think this should go to the Q&A system for clarification. It seems FIRST may mean to limit you to just two batteries on purpose! This way they can ensure that veterans and better funded teams don't have an advantage by having extra batteries.

[Alan Anderson]

Read the rule a little further.

Originally Posted by <R51>

The only legal main source of electrical energy on the robot is one of the two 12v DC non-spillable lead acid batteries provided in the Kit of Parts, or a spare of the same part number...The only 12V battery that may be used on your robot during competition (Friday and Saturday) is the Exide model EX18-12. (Additional EX18-12 batteries may be purchased through your local Exide supplier.) You may use other equivalent 12V batteries during Thursday practice rounds.

You're not limited to only the two provided in the kit.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

And just a reminder to all teams, it helps inspection if you don't paint the battery or try to cover it with some type of material. (colored tape for instance) Batteries must be clearly identifiable as the ES-18 or EX-18 battery. Don't accept substitutes (other part numbers that claim the same characteristics.) if you are purchasing additional spares.

[ChuckDickerson]

This same discussion comes up year after year. Here is the exact same thread from last year.

I think the confusion occurs as a result of FIRST's use of "in addition to". It seems to mean different things in different places in the manual to different people. We are not allowed to use motors "in addition to" but we are batteries as long as they are the same as the ones that came in the KoP (of course only one at a time). The whole breaker panel "in addition to" the power distribution stuff in this years KoP is another example. FIRST could clear all this up every year if the wording was changed in some places to "as well as" or "instead of".

[Windward]

Are we allowed to lay the big main battery on its side?

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by Windward

Are we allowed to lay the big main battery on its side?

Yes, any direction is fine (although you should NOT charge it upside down, and mounting it upside down may be a bad idea)

[Uberbots]

they only write this rule so that you suse more then one battery on the robot, therefore giving you an advatage power wise ove rthe resot of the theams.
but yea, that rule caught me by suprise, but i figured it was just worded badly. infactly, ignoreded it did i.