pic: Are these legal?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

Nitpick: actually such a laptop would be legal if it were powered off a DC-DC converter and the battery removed as it is a COTS computing device. Obviously overkill, but perfectly legal by itself.

Please see R31...
In part it reads:
"Additionally, batteries integral to and part of a COTS computing device or self-contained camera are also permitted (e.g. laptop batteries, GoPro style camera, etc.),"

As to modifying the SB50/120 connectors, the intent of R66 is to prevent teams from modifying electrical items in such a way that would cause a safety issue. Removing anything from a high current electrical connector may affect the safe use of such an item. R9 is also a little more pertinent to this question. The SB connectors are tested by UL for specified current and voltage without parts removed.

[Bertman]

What about just painting the connector? Blue, purple, green, whatever if that is important to you?

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by Bertman

What about just painting the connector? Blue, purple, green, whatever if that is important to you?

I think R66 would apply and make painting the connector illegal. At least that is my take on the rules.

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by orangemoore

I think R66 would apply and make painting the connector illegal. At least that is my take on the rules.

R66 says nothing about the wires or connectors attached to the battery. It says you can't change or modify the battery (among other things).

I don't see an issue with modifying the connector to mate with another connector. This isn't reducing it's protection from a short or its current carrying capacity of the connector itself. It's like saying a car isn't safe in a crash because you took the dice off the mirror. They aren't integral to the function of the device.

[Whippet]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I could have sworn it was legal to make an adapter that goes from, say, a red SB50 to a SB100 and have it be part of your robot. Could the same thing work for blue to red SB50s, or am I mistaken?

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Please see R31...
In part it reads:
"Additionally, batteries integral to and part of a COTS computing device or self-contained camera are also permitted (e.g. laptop batteries, GoPro style camera, etc.),"

As to modifying the SB50/120 connectors, the intent of R66 is to prevent teams from modifying electrical items in such a way that would cause a safety issue. Removing anything from a high current electrical connector may affect the safe use of such an item. R9 is also a little more pertinent to this question. The SB connectors are tested by UL for specified current and voltage without parts removed.

And I'm sure they are tested without being painted or modified on the external surfaces of the connector as well. What's to prevent a team from wrapping a 1 1/2 inches of Viton around the connectors and 4 inches down the wire? Is that legal? My thought process tells me it is acting as insulting device and not allowing heat to be dissipated and possibly causing a meltdown.

The intent of R66 is to prevent the intentional modification of electrical components to maintain some reasonable level of safety. I am all for innovation, but there are some guidelines and rules we all need to stay within.

Plus, if you make it to the finals and you need to borrow a 'spare parts' battery, it will have a SB50. You won't be able to connect.

[Foster]

"The SB50 connector series is keyed by color."

"Plus, if you make it to the finals and you need to borrow a 'spare parts' battery, it will have a SB50. You won't be able to connect."

It will be either a black or gray connector and it won't fit the blue one. This would be the biggest reason to not use the blue connector.

The color keyed SB50's is a nice feature if you know you'll never need to mate with a different color. We did a project with them, color coded cause it was cool and then got burned when we couldn't swap around. Decided to make "color adapters" and then decided to go black/gray all around with a strip of colored tape on the connector and cable.