Pneumatic Pressure Switch

[Mike Norton]

If you do not have a Clippard tanks on the robot do you need a pressure switch?

thank for your help

<R103> The Nason pressure switch must be connected to the output end of one of the Clippard
tanks to sense the tank’s pressure. The two wires from the pressure switch must be
connected directly to a digital input and ground terminal on the Robot Controller, and the
controller must be programmed to sense the state of the switch and operate the relay
module that powers the compressor. The Parker pressure vent valve must be connected to
a Clippard tank such that, when manually operated, it will vent to the atmosphere to relieve
any stored pressure. The valve must be placed on the ROBOT so that it is visible and
accessible.

[Rosiebotboss]

I would say, yes.

How else is the controller going to know when to shut off the compressor?

[Mike Norton]

there is no pressure being built up. So there will be no reason to shut off.




Mike

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

there is no pressure being built up. So there will be no reason to shut off.

Mike,

Even though there are no accumulators, pressure builds up in the tubing on the high side of the pressure regulator. Without the switch, the pressure relief valve is the only component stopping the system from a high pressure failure.

You need to have the pressure switch installed.

Regards,

Mike

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

If you do not have a Clippard tanks on the robot do you need a pressure switch?

thank for your help

why would you want to do that?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

If you do not have a Clippard tanks on the robot do you need a pressure switch?

thank for your help

Mike,
If you are asking "do I need to install the pressure switch if I don't use pnuematics?" Then the answer is no, you don't need the switch.
This part is included for those teams using pnuematics to allow the RC to shut off the compressor when the system high side pressure reaches about 125 PSI.

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

there is no pressure being built up. So there will be no reason to shut off.




Mike

Are you going to use the compressor strictly for vacuum?? If yes, then I would think you will have power/battery life during a match issues.

[Mike Norton]

Even though there are no accumulators, pressure builds up in the tubing on the high side of the pressure regulator. Without the switch, the pressure relief valve is the only component stopping the system from a high pressure failure.

You need to have the pressure switch installed.

Regards,

Mike

Thanks for the information.

The pressure will never get high due to the fact it is a open system. we will never get to the 60 psi. we are using the compessor for only blowing the air never to store it. once the compessor is shut off there is 0 pessure in the lines.

[Mike Norton]

Are you going to use the compressor strictly for vacuum?? If yes, then I would think you will have power/battery life during a match issues.

yes we are using it for vacuum only. and no we will not have a problem with battery life due to we will only be turning the compessor on a few times in the match.

We have multiple ways of getting the tubes. air is just one way.

thanks for the heads up anyways.

Mike

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

Thanks for the information.

The pressure will never get high due to the fact it is a open system. we will never get to the 60 psi. we are using the compessor for only blowing the air never to store it. once the compessor is shut off there is 0 pessure in the lines.

Mike,

You will find that the venturi works best at about 29 PSI inlet pressure. It must be connected to the low side of the pressure regulator and there must be a pressure switch on the high side.

If you don't want to take my word on this, I would suggest that you post on the official FIRST Q&A to get a ruling on this.

Mike

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Mike and Mike,
I have been pondering this question overnight and I think the answer might be this...
If you have a compressor you must have a few components on board to go along with it. These robots must have a pressure switch and be able to show that the compressor is under control of the RC and shuts off whenever the pressure reaches 125 PSI. So that means you have to include a high side guage to show that the switch is operating ( and some method of closing the system for testing during inspection). The robot rules also reguire the low side pressure to be 60 psi or less. So that reuires the regulator and another guage. I am thinking the relief valve needs to be in there somewhere to insure the system pressure is removed before working on the robot just for safety.
I have to stress that you need to take this through the Q&A for a definitive answer. I wouldn't want you to be surprised at an event.

[Mike Norton]

We are going to put everthing on like we had a tank. the only thing we will need is to put a relief valve just so we do bring the pressure up and show that the compessor will shut off


Mike

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

We are going to put everthing on like we had a tank. the only thing we will need is to put a relief valve just so we do bring the pressure up and show that the compessor will shut off


Mike

Mike,

What Al and I are advocating is that you post your question on the FIRST Q&A. This is the best way to remove ambiguities.

Both Al and I will be inspectors at a couple of the regionals and, while we appear to be of one mind on this issue, other inspectors may interpret the rules differently.

By posting to the FIRST Q&A you will be doing the entire community a service by getting FIRST to establish minimum requirements of a vacuum-only pneumatics system.

Regards,

Mike