I would like to ask if a 19 AWG zip speaker cable is good to make a JST VH 2-pin Motor Cable as I need to connect the rev robotics hex motor with a modern robotics core motor controller and was thinking in making new instead of cutting one end of the original cable and fix the Anderson powerpole in the other side. I won’t be using this in any robotics game just for personal use at home .
The REV HD Hex motor maxes out at 8.5 A while the Core Hex motor maxes out at 4.4 A. This is within what I find online for the current carrying capacity of 19 AWG copper wire. For reference, this also fits within the FRC wire sizes, which requires a minimum of 22 AWG copper for a ≤10 A fuse protected circuit. This is assuming your speaker cable is actually copper and not copper-clad aluminum, though that would probably also be alright with these numbers.
This is assuming that the wire will be used in relatively open air and with people nearby. If this is going to run in a big bundle, behind/under covers or walls, or without supervision, you will probably want a more conservative guideline.
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It’s good to look at the from an engineering principles view; however, this is one of the aspects of FIRST that is rather black and white as to if a robot is legal to compete.
For this question you should refer to the FTC game manual section 1 which covers robot construction including RE15 Robot Wiring:
i. Manufacturer supplied power, motor, servo, encoder, and sensor lead wires may be extended or
modified using custom made or COTS wire extensions subject to the following constraints:i. Power wires are 18 AWG or larger diameter (for example, 16 AWG wire has a larger diameter
than 18 AWG wire).
ii. Motor control wires as follows:i. 22 AWG or larger diameter for TETRIX Max 12V DC motors and REV Robotics Core
Hex (REV-41-1300) 12V DC motors
ii. 18 AWG or larger diameter for all other 12V DC motors
It looks like 19 AWG (bigger diameter than 22 AWG) is good for your rev robotics hex motor, while it would not be legal for 12V motors.
Note that the whole manual is written to use copper wire and not copper-coated wires. It will be very hard for inspectors to check on this, though this one would be in your best interest to follow based on the performance (wire resistance) difference.
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I’m not going to use it in any form of competition, I’m only doing it for myself mostly to learn how to programme the motors and so on . I do have the Rev robotics motor cables but as I mentioned above I don’t like to cut one end and attach the Anderson powerpole to it as I will be using Modern Robotics Modules
All I need to know is if its ok to use the 19 AWG or should I get the 16 AWG as not to damage the motors or the Modern Robotics modules. I’m a beginner and in my place we don’t have FTC or FRC competitions. I just like to learn as my son did compete in FGC this year in Geneva and it made me wanna learn how to build and program as when I was young we never imagined these things Thanks for all the help
Ah. Sorry didn’t see the last sentence about non-comp. What is ok by the manual is still an easy way to know it’s good to go.
Rev also has an adapter cable for this situation, by the way, if you don’t want to cut kit cables or don’t have the crimping tools for JST VH or PowerPole.
Yes I so those but to get them shipped here it will cost me $111+ the kit, and with that money to pay for the shipping I can buy the cable and the items needed 
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