Backup battery and IR

[Matthew_H]

I have setup the basics for testing our IR system. One of the problems I am having is that the servo does not operate unless I have the backup battery installed but I need the backup battery to run the beacon. Am I missing a step in this whole process. Also can someone post a picture of their working beacon board. I would like to compare what we made to what others have done to see if we made the pin 2 to pin3 switch correctly. It is me and 1 engineer trying to get this team up and running for our second year of competition. Make things in Baby steps.


Matthew

Ubergeeks

[Caleb Fulton]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

I have setup the basics for testing our IR system. One of the problems I am having is that the servo does not operate unless I have the backup battery installed but I need the backup battery to run the beacon. Am I missing a step in this whole process. Also can someone post a picture of their working beacon board. I would like to compare what we made to what others have done to see if we made the pin 2 to pin3 switch correctly. It is me and 1 engineer trying to get this team up and running for our second year of competition. Make things in Baby steps.


Matthew

Ubergeeks

Servos will not work without the 7.2v backup battery...That's just the way they are, as far as I know. You could consider running the beacon from an adjustable power supply.

[Ian W.]

You can purchase another 7.2v battery from IFI (www.innovationfirst.com/firstrobotics) for $7. Not sure how much shipping would be though.

[Joel Glidden]

We just powered the EDU / Beacon from a DC power supply set to 7.2v.

-Joel

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

I have setup the basics for testing our IR system. One of the problems I am having is that the servo does not operate unless I have the backup battery installed but I need the backup battery to run the beacon. Am I missing a step in this whole process.

Matthew,
It sounds like you have an Edubot contoller but only one battery. If that is the case you do need to buy another 7.2 volt hobby battery for the second controller. The servos are only powered from the 7.2 volt backup battery on the Robot Controller.
As a side note to all, all Nicad batteries are shipped uncharged. Make sure to fully charge the battery before you use it.

[Matthew_H]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Matthew,
It sounds like you have an Edubot contoller but only one battery. If that is the case you do need to buy another 7.2 volt hobby battery for the second controller. The servos are only powered from the 7.2 volt backup battery on the Robot Controller.
As a side note to all, all Nicad batteries are shipped uncharged. Make sure to fully charge the battery before you use it.

That is correct. We do only have one edu battery and I looked at innovationfirst to buy another one but it cost more to ship it than it does to buy the battery. I think we are going to Radioshack and buy a 7.2v battery and wire it up to the educontroller.

Matthew

Ubergeeks

[DanL]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

That is correct. We do only have one edu battery and I looked at innovationfirst to buy another one but it cost more to ship it than it does to buy the battery. I think we are going to Radioshack and buy a 7.2v battery and wire it up to the educontroller.

Matthew

Ubergeeks

Good luck finding one for less than $25 at Radio Shack. Compared to Shack prices, IFI's $7 is completely reasonable.