CAN connector on roboRIO is broken

Technical CAN
1

Hi y’all: We had a difficult time keeping the can wire connected to the roboRIO this past weekend; it looks like someone overstressed the connector or the button for the CAN connector on the roboRIO. The connector appears permanently open and won’t crimp onto the wire anymore. The button does detent when pressed but it doesn’t feel like it’s opening and closing the crimp inside the connector. Is there a way to replace just the connector itself or is the robotRIO toast ( as far as using CAN anyways ) .

Thank you. :confused: :eek: :ahh:

2

Is it possible to repair or replace the CAN connector circled in red on the RoboRIO ?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/screensteps_live/images/Wpilib/144971/22/rendered/cb95df3e-f2ef-44f5-b96d-128a99b7366f_display.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJRW37ULKKSXWY73Q&Expires=1459903920&Signature=7cyuCQmiIgM188xe7UBifu4XVQs%3D

3

You’d have to take apart the Rio to unsolder that, which would not be competition legal. Does a sufficient gage of solid core wire stay in the hole? You could attach a thick solid wire to the end of your can wire to keep it in.

Can you post an image of your Rio with the damage? The link you posted above doesn’t work.

4

Here they are: Thanks !

http://postimg.org/image/pl9tojfp9/ http://postimg.org/image/pl9tojfp9/
http://postimg.org/image/ee0zgfebh/ http://postimg.org/image/ee0zgfebh/
http://postimg.org/image/42omnrmm5/ http://postimg.org/image/42omnrmm5/
http://postimg.org/image/wzz5gx1kt/ http://postimg.org/image/wzz5gx1kt/

5

it could be much worse. Replacing that connector should not be too bad if you have some soldering skill. It will render the rio unusable for competition (technically), though you could argue that this is a repair under R66-M, which is permitted.

The connector in question is made by weidmuller. You need to measure the pitch of the two pins, but i think they are 3.5mm apart. The replacement is http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/weidmuller/1825640000/281-2042-ND/1094380

If they are 5mm and not 3.5mm, this is the replacement. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/weidmuller/1825960000/281-2124-ND/1094462

6

We’ve started using Weidmuller Ferrule’s to prevent such damage as well as make a positive contact with no wiskers.

We used ferrule’s for any connection we could. (But not the PDB power connections.)

7

I hate those Weidmuller connectors. Using Ferrules is the only way we’ve ever had luck with keeping wires in firmly, but even with >20 AWG they pull out fairly easily.

I buy all my Ferrules from eBay. Instead of paying $4USD for 20 you’re paying $2USD for 100, and they’re the exact same product.

I just hope in the future these Weidmuller connectors go away. They’re just nowhere near the level of reliability of the Wago terminals on the PDB.