Electrical solenoids

[dtengineering]

To agree with Qbranch and expand, I think some rules that appear to be overly strict are there so that they are simple to enforce.

For instance by saying "No solenoids", a tech inspector does not have to be an expert on solenoids to determine whether or not they are being used safely. By limiting the pneumatics components, the tech inspectors can easily identify legal parts. They don't need to refer to a catalog to determine safe operating limits for a hundred different types of cylinder. By saying "No Tape", the tech inspector doesn't have to get into an argument over whether the tape is ugly, or unsafe, or poor practice... it's tape, it's gone.

You see this with the safety glasses rule at competitions... is it overkill? Darn straight, but it is pretty difficult to misinterpret it, isn't it? Simple is good, sometimes.

This is, I believe, similar reasoning to why you can't take nail clippers on an airplane... it seems a bit silly, but it saves the security guards from having to get into a discussion over what is and what isn't a "safe" nail clipper. Simple. Fast. Efficient. For the officials, if not for you.

Just my $.0208 CDN

Jason

($.0208 CDN = $.02 US... I'm hoping for parity before we have to pay the entry fees....)