So I wanted to confirm if know this correctly, so please explain to me if I am wrong. If a spark max CAN cables small green cable or small yellow cable that is bridging the Can High and Can low’s from the female end to the male end or vice versa is cut of and is not repaired or replaced, the CAN network will not function properly right? Because our team mentor insists that it will not be a problem. I’ve been participating in FRC for 4 years and I am the electrical and electronics chief of our team and I have never seen a broken CAN cable like this being used. If I am wrong please explain why as I would like to learn and not make the same “mistake” of using the broken can cables. I am also including an image of what I mean incase I wasn’t clear. Thanks in advance to everyone.
Those small loops are there to maintain can bus continuity if the jst connector becomes unplugged from the spark max. If that loop is cut or otherwise disconnected it will still work as long as the jst connector remains plugged into the spark max.
We have had issues with these cables. The pins of the jst connectors are only designed to accommodate one wire but they have two wire crimped in and this causes increased stress on the wires.
We crimp our own wires with molex sl and have had no can issues. As always with crimping such small wires attention to detail is important.
I am not very familiar with these jst connectors that you speak of having never used them before. I am not the expert on everything so I should probably learn what they are but if I understand correctly we are not using those connectors in our can loops the only connection is the one being made through the male to female green and yellow lines.
Actually I just checked, I definitely know what it is and we are not using them because we are using the spark max with CIM motors therefore no encoders and other type of stuff is used like the one in the pictures
So basically the small loops in the cable are there for redundancy. The CAN network is still connected inside the Spark Max, but the loops are there so if the cable is disconnected the rest of the network continues to function. The Spark Max will still work if those loops are missing. REV actually used to sell the cables without those loops, so I have no doubt that your network will work if the loops are missing.
I think you might be confused. The 6-pin port near the motor output wires is what’s used to attach an encoder (external or integral to a Neo motor). The 4-pin port near the USB port and the power input wires is for CAN or PWM input. They’re both the same series of connector (JST-PH), but they’re different sizes and are used for different things.
Ok thx i was confused