pic: removable electronics

[falconmaster]

loading photo ...

[Andy L]

Sorry for no exact rule quote but there is a rule that says that power must be run from power distribution blocks directly no intermediate devices can be used. From what i can see your MAXI Fuse Block is an intermediate device for your circuit breaker.

EDIT: Cleared up what the fuse block was being an intermediate for

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by Andy L

Sorry for no exact rule quote but there is a rule that says that power must be run from power distribution blocks directly no intermediate devices can be used. From what i can see your MAXI Fuse Block is and intermediate device.

Why would they give us that fuse block in the kit if it wasn't allowed?

All circuit breaker distribution panels must be connected directly to the power
distribution block. No intermediate connections are permitted.

I think that's the rule you're talking about, and currently, it doesn't look like there is any circuit breaker connected to the power distribution block.

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by Andy L

Sorry for no exact rule quote but there is a rule that says that power must be run from power distribution blocks directly no intermediate devices can be used. From what i can see your MAXI Fuse Block is and intermediate device.

The maxi block MUST be used in order for the 40amp breakers to be mounted. The maxi block is a required part if a 40 Amp Breaker is desired.

[mluckham]

I don't see the main circuit breaker - is that off-board also (near the battery)?

But according to the power distribution diagram http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...on_Diagram.pdf they have the Maxi breaker block wired correctly.

[mluckham]

BUT - I don't think the way they wired the other breaker panel to the MAXI block is correct.

[lukevanoort]

Yeah, the problem isn't with the MAXI block, it is the ATC block. The ATC block is getting + power from a wire connected to the maxi block. That is illegal and I think that is what Andy L was talking about.

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by mluckham

BUT - I don't think the way they wired the other breaker panel to the MAXI block is correct.

<edit>Post makes sense, now, didn't understand until reworded.

[Aren_Hill]

you don't "have" to use the 40 amp maxi block. Last year due to how our teams drivtrain was setup we decided we didn't want the weight of the thing and just put 30 amps breakers to the cims and fischerprices. No rule disallowing it

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Chuck Glick

No rule is broken from what I see, they just wired the Maxi and breaker panel in parallel. Both are still receiving 12v with no shorts. I'm 99.9% thats legal, but thats all up to your inspector at comp.

Originally Posted by Section 8: The Robot

<R50> The 12V battery, the main 120-amp circuit breaker, the power distribution block, and circuit
breaker distribution panels shall be connected as shown in the 2008 Power Distribution
Diagram. In particular:
...
* All circuit breaker distribution panels must be connected directly to the power
distribution block. No intermediate connections are permitted.
...

Its definitely illegal, but an easy fix.

[Andy L]

sorry about my first post being misunderstood the MAXI fuse block is being intermediate for the circuit breaker which is illegal

[falconmaster]

Could we get more feedback from more people. The four girls working on the electronics used a picture that was posted on cd that they though was great. I think it was Madison's team 488. It looks to me that the maxiblock is parallel to the normal fuse panel. Does anyone else see it. They were just trying to cut down weight by not having to use another red distribution block.

[Andy L]

Originally Posted by falconmaster

Could we get more feedback from more people. The four girls working on the electronics used a picture that was posted on cd that they though was great. I think it was Madison's team 488. It looks to me that the maxiblock is parallel to the normal fuse panel. Does anyone else see it. They were just trying to cut down weight by not having to use another red distribution block.

I was looking for that post today but if you read the replies to it a few quote rule R50 and I think 488 fixed their issue just didn't repost it

[JBotAlan]

Strangely enough, we just had a huge debate tonight on this very subject. We decided that there would be too many points of failure electrically; the more intermediate connections you have, the more points it can fail, and the more points it has higher resistance at it. Anyone found that Anderson pairs get warm after a particularly hard match? There's your proof that they raise resistance. Another issue we had was we do not have a purpose besides it being "cool" to have this type of board. No matter how we do it, making a removable board would not save time replacing a failed Victor/Spike. We decided it didn't fit our needs, and that we would have a traditional, fixed board. Since every team has a different set of requirements, this may be appropriate for other teams, and that's for them to decide.

What were your criteria with this design? What were you hoping to accomplish? Is it very easy to remove from the robot (not sure if you have a robot built to play with...we don't really...)? Just curious, because I would like to see one of these built, but need to come up with more reasons why.

JBot

[Andy L]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

but need to come up with more reasons why.

JBot

our team is might use a board somewhat like this (mainly the easy disconnecting of cetain components) but making it more modular so if a victor fails just unplug four wires put a new one in and plug the four wires again... those victor screws suck sometimes when you're pressed for time