Electrically Isolating Electrical Components

[Al Skierkiewicz]

David,
Lexan or other insulating material can be used between the Crio and the camera to block them from contact with the robot frame. Please be advised that the camera screws, on the back of the camera, stick out just enough to contact any metal behind the camera (the camera mount kit with servos). The method inspectors use to check isolated electrical systems is to first disconnect and/or remove the battery. Then, using a VOM or DMM. check for resistance between the robot frame and both the negative and positive terminals on the PD. Any reading less than 100,000 ohms indicates you have a sneak path that needs to be corrected. You are probably asking yourself why on this rule about now. If two robots come in contact somehow and one of them should contact part of the other robots electrical system, current would flow through the robot frames and the common connections of parts on the robot. Although highly unlikely, a contact of this type may cause a main breaker trip, or a trip of the PD protection breakers for the Crio and other interfaces. We want everyone to play an entire match so this small addition prevents any action that would result in a robot being disabled. In past years, the most often frame fault has been caused by improper insulation under the KOP sensors, e.g. the gear tooth sensor. All teams should make this simple check during build and often during competition.