Solenoid Wires

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Posted by AJ Howard at 2/15/2001 4:02 PM EST


Other on team #316 from Salem County.



The Solenoid uses 24 AWG wires. Why do you have to use 16 AWG wires to run from the relay to the solenoid.
Thank You
Team 316

[archiver]

Posted by Joe Ross at 2/15/2001 8:41 PM EST


Engineer on team #330, Beach Bot, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA/JPL , J&F Machine, and Raytheon.


In Reply to: Solenoid Wires
Posted by AJ Howard on 2/15/2001 4:02 PM EST:



: The Solenoid uses 24 AWG wires. Why do you have to use 16 AWG wires to run from the relay to the solenoid.

FIRST always trys to be conservative with the wire sizes. It is much better to be safe than sorry and not every team has someone who can calculate the safe wire size.

[archiver]

Posted by Lloyd Burns at 2/16/2001 7:53 AM EST


Other on team #188, Woburn Robotics, from Woburn Collegiate and Canada 3000, ScotiaBank, Royal Bank Financial.


In Reply to: Solenoid Wires
Posted by AJ Howard on 2/15/2001 4:02 PM EST:



: The Solenoid uses 24 AWG wires. Why do you have to use 16 AWG wires to run from the relay to the solenoid.
: Thank You
: Team 316

Imagine that your robot is "impacted" by a falling 20 year old Russian satellite (since FIRST robots _never_ bang into each other): the wires to your solenoid are severed and shorted. With thin 24 AWG wires, the wire gets hot and fuses, perhaps at several places along the length, causing potential fire hazard. With thick 16 AWG wire, before the wire heats up, the circuit breaker cuts out and disconnects the circuit. :-)