2005 Electricals or 2006?

[Barry Craig]

2006 because it came with the kit. If it works, why not use it? And we never tripped a breaker or set the robot on fire. Therefore, we win.

[evolution]

2005. I hope FIRST sees the overwhelming preference and considers switching back next year.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by evolution

2005. I hope FIRST sees the overwhelming preference and considers switching back next year.

Chief Delphi is not the best sample set. The 2006 stuff works fine for most of the teams. People who post on this thread have spent time thinking about which setup is better, something I don't think the majority of teams think about. People posting this thread also represent teams that have stricter weight budgets than most. My team takes sensors off to make weight.

As an inspector, I would like to see the 2005 panel in the kit. It is very easy to trace wires back to the single panel. With only 1 panel, it is less likely that teams will make mistakes or forget a piece. Many teams have problems running #6 wire for the 2006 setup, while the 2005 panel can be done with a single Anderson connector and a couple ring lugs.

Obviously, the underlying factor is cost (2005 panel is $85). I would like to see IFI make a cheaper 2007 panel without all the bells and whistles of the the 2005 version.
How many people actually use the serial breaker trip feedback?
I don't, because serial cables weigh too much

[steven114]

We too use the 2005 panel without feedback for the weight/convenience/space.

[Barry Craig]

The feedback port on the 2005 model was my only argument for the panel. We already have more than enough space for more breakers on the 2006. Plus, you can just add another breaker panel if need be for meore space.

[Loki1989]

we used the 2006 setup but i would have liked to have used the 2005 setup it seem like it would be easier to wire.

we busted out the 2005 panel when we ran out of space for our fifth cim therefore taking up more space and no to actually put it

[Rickertsen2]

2005. Great investment

[Biff]

2005 never even considered all those super heavy maxi blocks and ground stud. We are even running a mini bike cim on a thirty amp breaker instead of a 40 to keep from things light and to open sooner (too much power) if balls jam the roller mech.

[Dillon Compton]

2005 breaker panel - weight, ease of wiring, cleaner layout - an all around superior solution. As soon as IFI's stock recovers, I will be purchasing a few for projects of my own, actually.

[KTorak]

2005. Best money spent for robotics components

[Loki1989]

what i meant was that its sitting inthere with the 2006 setup i wasnt clear enough.

[Mike Hendricks]

Originally Posted by evolution

2005. I hope FIRST sees the overwhelming preference and considers switching back next year.

We used the 2005 one (after I bugged the student in charge of electrical to consider the options). It's much lighter, cleaner looking, easier to use .. I could go on forever.

Regarding FIRST bringing it back .. this was something I thought about and this is the conclusion I've reached (which might be wrong, but I'm willing to make a gamble on it). FIRST has always been looking for ways to cut costs in the kit. The breaker panel was gone this year, and so were the LEDs. Both are items that came from IFI. IFI is already responsible for the control system and the electronics (meaning spikes, victors, radios) .. and it leaves me under the impression that FIRST couldn't financially justify using the breaker panel (there were also stories from last year of the casing breaking open .. which is a big concern). By using the Maxi Blocks, the AB Terminal block, and the other things that IFI don't supply, it opens FIRST up to other sponsors that can provide the items at a lower cost, if any.

Now, I don't work for FIRST or IFI, so take that as an educated guess for whatever its worth. I would love to see the breaker panel come back again .. but if FIRST doesn't want to put it in the kit, at least allow it as an OTS part.

And I'm with The Lucas on this one, a "dumb" breaker panel would be awesome. The flashing light did nothing but drive us crazy after we kept tripping the fuse on our FP motor in 05.

[Biff]

The best I am hoping for is the 2005 with out all the bells internal CPU, as an available option. Should be cheaper and if you are not going to use the interface why buy it? We have enough to do for the programmer with out trying to get breaker info back from the panel. However if, as part of the (2005+) panel we could get branch currents, then I would changing my tune.

[Gary Dillard]

We used the 2005 at my request - clean, compact, light. I loved it when it came out. Didn't use the diagnostics.

I have a couple questions, however:

1) IFI instructions (and lettering on the panel) say "For optimum power distribution, the auto-resetting breakers should be installed from the lowest number to the highest number", starting with 30 Amps. Does this really make that much of a difference? Is it just the power drop due to difference in resistance because of a shorter circuit length through the board? Wouldn't I have an equal or similar increase in power drop if I had to add additional length wiring to reach the lower numbered terminals rather than taking the shortest path to the breaker board?

2) Likewise, isn't ground ground? Does it matter where on the ground panel I hook up my ground wires? Can't I hook the ground from source number 1 to any ground terminal and get the same effect?

[eugenebrooks]

I have not taken a breaker panel apart to check consistency of the design with the recommendations, but you want your high current grounds as close as possible to the ground lug, and you want your high current breakers as close as possible to the power lug, in order to minimize voltage drop for these circuits. The internal layout that you would guess from exterior layout is consistent with this.

We love this breaker panel and next year we might have time to put some of the diagnostic info on the IO display. I don't want to do a dash board, but I think that a led light when a new breaker pops and an indicator on the user led display of which one it is could be a good thing.

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

We used the 2005 at my request - clean, compact, light. I loved it when it came out. Didn't use the diagnostics.

I have a couple questions, however:

1) IFI instructions (and lettering on the panel) say "For optimum power distribution, the auto-resetting breakers should be installed from the lowest number to the highest number", starting with 30 Amps. Does this really make that much of a difference? Is it just the power drop due to difference in resistance because of a shorter circuit length through the board? Wouldn't I have an equal or similar increase in power drop if I had to add additional length wiring to reach the lower numbered terminals rather than taking the shortest path to the breaker board?

2) Likewise, isn't ground ground? Does it matter where on the ground panel I hook up my ground wires? Can't I hook the ground from source number 1 to any ground terminal and get the same effect?