New Talon vs New Victor

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve

Powers the compressor, or controls a Spike that powers the compressor?

Originally Posted by Knufire

It powers the compressor directly AFAIK.

Yes, Spikes no longer power the compressor.
It wires directly into the PCM.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Knufire

It powers the compressor directly AFAIK.

Correct. There's a dedicated port from the PDP to the PCM, from which the compressor is wired.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Knufire

It powers the compressor directly AFAIK.

Yep, the compressor +12v and ground wires plug straight into the PCM. There's some very intelligent circuitry in the PCM to make sure the large start current required by the compressor or any potential shorts in the system doesn't blow the fuse on the PDB's control system supplies. (The solenoid outputs have the same protection.)

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

Is this true? The information I read stated that the PCM replaced the spike for the compressor - but I did not think it would replace the individual solenoid spikes. If this is the case, then I am totally sold on the idea...saving all the spike space PLUS $30 a spike is major. Someone please confirm!

Most teams were already beyond using spikes to control their solenoids, they were doing it via to solenoid breakout on the cRio. Forcing teams to go back to spikes would have been a step backwards.

[FrankJ]

So can you use a PCM to control a talon or a victor? Or this the wrong thread for that?

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Most teams were already beyond using spikes to control their solenoids, they were doing it via to solenoid breakout on the cRio. Forcing teams to go back to spikes would have been a step backwards.

I've never really looked at it that way - but I guess this makes a lot of sense now. We have never used the solenoid breakout because of our supply of 12V solenoids - the only 24V ones were the stuff we got in various KOPs or PDVs. We never really considered the solenoid breakout a progression away from Spike relays...but I guess if you had been doing it that way, the going back to Spikes would be a backward step. I am excited now.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

I've never really looked at it that way - but I guess this makes a lot of sense now. We have never used the solenoid breakout because of our supply of 12V solenoids - the only 24V ones were the stuff we got in various KOPs or PDVs. We never really considered the solenoid breakout a progression away from Spike relays...but I guess if you had been doing it that way, the going back to Spikes would be a backward step. I am excited now.

The cRio pneumatic breakout supported 12V solenoids. I believe the breakout supported both 12V and 24V depending how you wired it.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by R.C.

The cRio pneumatic breakout supported 12V solenoids. I believe the breakout supported both 12V and 24V depending how you wired it.

Yep. You could have wired the solenoid breakout to a standard slot on the PDP for 12V, or to the same dedicated port that you powered the cRIO from for 24V.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Monochron

TO my understanding it is required that you use the new PCM to run your pneumatics.

Where did you hear this?

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Monochron

TO my understanding it is required that you use the new PCM to run your pneumatics. The PCM only communicates via CAN, so you will have to use it. Like others have said there, it isn't a large undertaking to setup CAN, just make sure you understand all the differences.

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

Where did you hear this?

From a robot inspector's point of view I can not imagine FIRST allowing the compressor and pressure switch to be connected to anything but a PCM. No, that is not based on anything official just my gut feeling that they would rule that way to make inspection easier.

[lbarger]

Has FIRST officially said either of these new speed controllers would be allowed in 2015? Last I heard they were evaluating both models to make sure they had acceptable performance and safety. That said, I don't see how they will not be allowed given the 888's and previous Talons are both discontinued. I'd rather not spend money on either model unless I know they would be allowed.

[Jon Stratis]

There has been no official word since the blog post about evaluating them. That said, I haven't heard of any big issues with them, so I imagine they will both be legal.

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

There has been no official word since the blog post about evaluating them. That said, I haven't heard of any big issues with them, so I imagine they will both be legal.

True statement....no official word from HQ as to legality. I sent an email up to Manchester on Friday, no answer yet, but I expect a ruling soon. Teams want to know!!

[MrRoboSteve]

Glad the PCM can handle the compressor startup current.

Can you have one PCM set for 12V solenoids and one for 24v?

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve

Can you have one PCM set for 12V solenoids and one for 24v?

Not the same PCM (one PCM is all 24v or all 12v), but yes, you can have multiple PCMs set at different voltages. (You can apparently have up to 127 devices on a CAN bus. I shudder to think of a team that could max that out.)