12V power supply for roborio

[acastagna]

Has anyone ever powered a roboio (or cRio) using a plug-in 12 volt power supply? I was thinking that it would be convenient to power it that way instead of using the battery/PDP when testing out code to drive sensors, arduino, etc (anything with low current requirements).

I picture the 12 volt supply feeding directly into the PDB, or possibly right to the roborio (although that would bypass any over-voltage protection provided by the PDP).

[Joe Ross]

I use a 12v 2A wallwart directly into my roboRIO (but I'm not trying to run anything else). The only protection the PDP provides is a fuse.

[Alan Anderson]

We regularly power a robot control system with a 12v linear power supply. The one I have wired to an SB50 connector is capable of only a few amps, so we can't run any motors, but everything else works okay.

(Trying to use a switching power supply on the older PDB, with its own internal switching power supplies, was not a consistent success.)

[otherguy]

I've also used a 12v, 2A supply directly wired into the roboRIO. Something like this.

Also have used an old ATX computer power supply with the cRIO and roboRIO with no issues.

[ozrien]

In a pinch I used a CAN Connector to connect a 12V wall supply to andersons, and have been using it ever since [hey it works for power too ]

I suppose I could have grabbed a RIO connector instead.

[acastagna]

Thanks for all the feedback - I feel more comfortable going forward. This will be a convenience as we are trying to step up our use of sensors and automation this year.

[juchong]

In past years we've used the power adapter included with the D-Link radios as a power source for cRIOs/RoboRIOs.

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by juchong

In past years we've used the power adapter included with the D-Link radios as a power source for cRIOs/RoboRIOs.

IIRC the D-Link took 5V and the cRIO took 12-24V. That doesn't sound like a good combination. Do I remember incorrectly?

We have a 12V power supply we use to test both the cRIO/roboRIO for programming and the entire robot if we are doing long bench tests and don't want to have to keep switching batteries.

[riftware]

I'm thinking about getting one of these for our benchbot
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-AMP-CONT...EAAOSwBahVA8Ar

Supposedly 12 100 AMP - Put the normal connector on it (Anderson? ) and use it through the pdp just like it was a battery. I'm thking 100 AMP would be enough even to power 2 CIM's if they have no load on them right?

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by riftware

I'm thinking about getting one of these for our benchbot
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-AMP-CONT...EAAOSwBahVA8Ar

Supposedly 12 100 AMP - Put the normal connector on it (Anderson? ) and use it through the pdp just like it was a battery. I'm thking 100 AMP would be enough even to power 2 CIM's if they have no load on them right?

According to Andymark, a CIM motor's free current is 2.7 amps. That is if it has absolutely no load on it. 100 amps will be more than enough to power 2 CIM motors at free speed. The problem comes when you attach them to gearboxes and wheels. I'd still say with a properly geared gearbox that you're pretty safe doing a 2 CIM drive off a 100 amp power source.