Batteries

[merybar]

I currently am in a debate with my coach over how many batteries to take to competition. I feel that we need to change the battery after each match. He thinks we only need to take 2 batteries to competition. So how many batteries do you take? Do you change after every match? Thanks!!!!!!!
Matt

[BornaE]

We are taking 4. Might buy 2 more.

[jax1488]

i would suggest taking as many batteries as u have chargers =D lol u never know what will happen.. such as a battery didnt charge right.. and who knows what if u have 3 matches lined up in a row? are u going to use a half charged battery?

[MrForbes]

heh....we have 7 batteries and 5 chargers and we're worried we don't have enough! This game is going to eat up batteries like crazy

[EricH]

Bring:

• ALL batteries that are competition legal for matches. 2 isn't always enough.
• ANY Backup Batteries you have around.
• ONE or TWO old batteries (non-legal and marked as such) for practice in the pits (to allow comp. batteries to charge)

Change every match. There is nothing worse than having a battery die mid-match because it wasn't charged. Also, they'll charge "faster" if they've already got some voltage. (Same charge rate, less to fill, faster charge timewise.)

[ShaneP]

In my experience, it's always a good idea to have a fresh battery for every match. You won't have a tapering in performance match to match as the battery drains. Makes for a more consistent prediction of what the robot will do and how it will react.

If you do change the battery every match, which you should, two batteries won't be enough. 330 usually brings about 5 - 7 batteries (with enough chargers) - that way you can cycle the batteries ensuring you get a freshly charged one for each match.

[Matt C]

We always bring as many batteries as we can (the change to new batteries last year reduced our supply significantly). We have a constant rotation, and a single person monitoring, removing, and replacing the batteries.

His sole responsibility is that the robot gets a fresh battery after every match, checking it with a meter prior to installation. This ensures that we always go out with a properly installed and fully charged battery every match.

If you get into the eliminations, it is VERY important that you have as many batteries as possible in rotation. We've found ourselves borrowing batteries from other teams which did not make eliminations to pick up the slack.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

merybar,
In reality there is no way to really answer this. Some teams eat a battery almost dead in one match while others can easily go two or three matches or longer. If you plan to just sit and watch during the finals, then you won't need too many. However, if you plan to make the finals, (You have planned to that haven't you?) then you will need a few extra for the later matches. Although you could go begging, you might want to have a few of your own just in case. If you are a small bot with omni wheels and tank drive, then you might be able to get by with three or four. If you don't use omni's and you have a lot of functionality and draw lots of current in turns (this is a turning year ya know!) then I would go with some of the recommendations above.

[Cory]

We've collected enough batteries to theoretically make it through every elimination match at Championships without recycling previously used batteries (9 divisional matches, 6 Einstein matches).

[Billfred]

We'll be taking four legal batteries (the 2007 and 2008 batteries), and we will most likely drag along one or two of the old Exide batteries for the pit. Last year, we made it through Palmetto (quarterfinals included) on two batteries--and that's with a lot of pushing. One of ours from that year seemed to show its age during a recent demo, but I feel confident that we'll be alright with the smaller amount of pushing in this year's game*.

*I never said that pushing wouldn't happen, just that I don't expect it to be as common as we experienced when playing Rack 'N Roll.

[IndySam]

Batteries are like clamps or money, you can never have enough.

We will bring 6 legal batteries for matches and a couple of old ones for the practice area and at least six chargers.

We will also have 4 backup batteries.

[eugenebrooks]

Our minimum is six legal batteries that have been capacity checked
for a 20 amp load, backed up by a true three stage charger with 5
independent 6 amp banks. The batteries that are not in the robot are
always on the charger. We are usually in a position to help out
alliance partners if we get into the finals. I would not consider coming
to an event with less than four batteries and three chargers.

Eugene

[Corey Oostveen]

Team 288 Made it through 2 Regionals and Nationals with just 2 batteries with no problems at all. So it can be done.


We upped it too 5 batteries this year with 5 battery chargers. So it will be a big change from last year.


The amount of batteries you have is up to you.
Minimum 2.
Maximum...200?

Make sure to keep them Labeled.

Corey

[N7UJJ]

Can't have too many batteries.

Figure 5-6 matches on Friday, 2-4 on Saturday morning with 15-60 minutes between matches. You can get by on two batteries.

However...

If you are in the quarterfinals, semifinals, finals, you will have 6-9 or more matches in just a couple of hours with little recharging time between matches.

[pafwl]

In our teams experience the more the better. Espacially when you get into the elimanation (playoff) rounds. You are going through rounds so fast you can really eat up batteries fast. Then again I have seen robots go 3 sometimes 4 rounds and be just fine. Better safe then sorry.