pic: Our new cart, pic 1

[Dan Petrovic]

So you plan on powering it up every time you want to move the cart? Even if you have to move it 2 feet?

[Qbranch]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

So you plan on powering it up every time you want to move the cart? Even if you have to move it 2 feet?

The beauty of embedded processing... it takes less than a second to boot up a FRC controller... i'm assuming thats what you're using...

Plus, I doubt the cart uses much energy on 'stand by' (not moving) so you could probably leave it on all the time, just put a quick disconnect on it so you can just hook it to your charger whenever its in your pit.

If you're handy with a lathe and/or a vertical mill, you could make a nifty magnetic power connector (like on a mac, but bigger) pretty easily out of some brass and HDPE (or delrin or any insulative, rigid plastic of your choice). Always wanted to make one of these... but never had an application for it yet.

-q

[Chief Pride]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

If you're handy with a lathe and/or a vertical mill, you could make a nifty magnetic power connector (like on a mac, but bigger) pretty easily out of some brass and HDPE (or delrin or any insulative, rigid plastic of your choice). Always wanted to make one of these... but never had an application for it yet.

can u explain that a little more? i am very interested

[DanDon]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

The beauty of embedded processing... it takes less than a second to boot up a FRC controller... i'm assuming thats what you're using...

Plus, I doubt the cart uses much energy on 'stand by' (not moving) so you could probably leave it on all the time, just put a quick disconnect on it so you can just hook it to your charger whenever its in your pit.

If you're handy with a lathe and/or a vertical mill, you could make a nifty magnetic power connector (like on a mac, but bigger) pretty easily out of some brass and HDPE (or delrin or any insulative, rigid plastic of your choice). Always wanted to make one of these... but never had an application for it yet.

-q

The cart is actually capable of being hooked up to shore power and when it's, let's say, in the pit....the inverter is turned off and shore power is connected.

[eshteyn]

Guys, have faith in our engineering skills. The cart is a completely self sufficient electrical and mechanical system that can stay active for a full day with the drive system being used and 2 days of just charging batteries (without needing a recharge). Every system has a redundant system to back it up in case of a failure. The system is charged by one AC input to a custom designed distribution box using relays to select shore power or inverter power. It has a descent speed and a relatively tight turning radius. It is very safe for the user as well as the surrounding people. For the driver it has a 4 point restraint system and for other people the cart has an emergency braking system that brings it to a stop within inches.

As for the magnetic shore power plug, that would be very unsafe, because when the magnet disconnects you now have a situation where the leads can be easily shorted, or shock someone.