Extra pd ground block or circuit breaker?

[Guru]

We're using 4 CIMS, and 1 FP, so the power to them have to come from the maxi blocks, but the ground needs to come from the power distribution block, and there are only 4 black parts on the pd block. Are we allowed to use the ground on the mini breaker?

[EDIT] also, for the pd block, do the sides have to be assigned 'in' and 'out', or can you put 'out's on the 'in' side too?

[Jim E]

This confused me a little too. The best way to describe the blocks is to treat each block set, red or black with jumpers installed, as a single point. Each terminal can be used for either inputs or outputs. Therefore, you have 8 terminals per block set. If the wire is a smaller gauge like 14 to 18, it would be okay to double up 2 wires into one terminal. This is especially true on the grounds. Anything from 12 ga. and larger is probably too large to comfortably fit into the terminal opening.

Try to avoid daisy-chaining the black return wires. If a fuse panel is wired to a particular circuit, it's preferable to ground the circuit to the panel and then the panel to the block.
DO NOT daisy chain the ground returns from the maxi-panel (40A) to anything but the distribution block. You will experience wierd voltage drops and could possibly create a fire hazard from overheated wiring.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guru,
The Robot Electrical Diagram on the First website and the Tips and Guidelines both have a recommendation for this. All motors that are connected to 40 amp breakers should return to the power distribution terminals which have terminals on both sides. (this gives you less power loss) You can terminate 2 #10 or #12 wires to each side. Assuming you have installed the yellow jumpers on both the red and black blocks you should be able to accomodate all your 40 amp loads. Please do not daisy chain the #6 from the terminal block through the Maxi block to a small fuse panel. This will lower the avialble voltage for loads connected to the small block. As Jim stated above, returns (black wires) for 30 and 20 amp circuits should be returned to the common block on the smaller fuse panel.