[FTC]: Using Anderson Connectors for wiring.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Phil,
You are correct. I had forgotten the last sentence was added this year.

[PhilBot]

No Problems...

Phil.

[Pittwood]

Hi Phil,

We thought we would try the Anderson 30 Amp connectors. Should we buy the unassembled or the permanently bonded? Also, the FIRST components list recommends a power distribution panel. Do you know what that is?
Thank you.
Ron Pittwood
Coach
FTC 2888

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Ron,
There is/was a power distribution panel for FTC in the past. I have been looking for it but haven't found it yet. It simply was a power terminal that connected the battery to multiple outputs. I believe that is what is referenced.

[Michael Coleman]

These PowerPole Splitters look interesting:

www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/ps-8-inline-8-way.html

www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/ps-4-inline-4-way.html

[Andrew Schuetze]

Nice find Michael.

It appears that it is a common bus bar with power coming into any lead and being shared across all others. This is a nice way to put in future options for adding devices later. Start with the 4 bus version and then swap it out for the slightly larger 8 bus version.

[Scott_4140]

So, the ruling states the we can use up to 30Amp Anderson Connectors. I can't believe there is anywere near this much current running through an FTC robot. The 15 Amp connectors greatly reduce the bulk of these connectors. The contacts are universal between the 15 and 30 Amp connectors, so you can use the larger 16 gage contacts for the folded over wire and still install them in the 15 Amp connectors.

Does anyone see a reason not to use the 15 Amp connectors?

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Scott_4140

Does anyone see a reason not to use the 15 Amp connectors?

Yes. You risk failing inspection, because they're arguably illegal. (What is "similar"?)

It's at least plausible that FIRST had a technical reason for mandating the higher-current connectors—maybe they were especially (perhaps inordinately) concerned about durability, for example.

And even if it's just a mistake on FIRST's part, ask about it in the Q&A forum before deciding to use the 15 A versions.

[ssi]

Actually, I think you are confused on the differences between the 15 and 30 amp connectors. According to this page:

http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-po...owerpole-sets/

The 15, 30, and 45 amp connectors share the same housing, the only difference is in the contact.

The reason that FIRST specifies 30 amp connectors is probably because the battery is fused at 20 amps. It would be poor design to use a connector rated for less than the fuse on the circuit.

I hope this helps.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

David, I think your assessment is correct. The safety of the contact is an issue and the 15 amp contact is not the same as the 30 amp contact. The housing is the same for 15, 30 and 45 amp contacts. I also agree with Tristan, only the Q&A can make a firm answer on this point.

[jtdowney]

I just want to point out this section of the Powerwerx page:

High current rating, low resistance
The size of the wire a Powerpole contact will accept is the primary limitation of their ability to carry a load. The size of the flat contact area is actually the same for all 15, 30 & 45 amp contacts. Powerpoles will safely handle higher loads or surges, please read the PP30 data sheet (PDF) for additional information.

This is the information we worked with when using these connectors on our FRC robot. However as many others have said, only a Q&A post can be the final verdict.

[Sasha]

A couple of closely related questions:
- The rules say "Motor power, power and encoder wires may be extended by splicing additional lengths of wire" (R14<c>). Does anyone know if it allowed to just replace one of the wires (say, the power wire to the switch) with your own one - of course, of required AWG rating.

- The document about using PowerPole connectors specifically warns that you should NOT tin the wires. This is news to me: I have always tinned the wire end going into the screw terminals on motor controllers - it makes it so much easier to get in the hole. Any comments on this? Is there a real danger of the wire heating so much that the solder will melt?