diff --git a/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/am-4969.jpg b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/am-4969.jpg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed461f26 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/am-4969.jpg differ diff --git a/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/goBILDApdb.jpg b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/goBILDApdb.jpg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..38a2cf7a Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/images/goBILDApdb.jpg differ diff --git a/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/power-distr.rst b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/power-distr.rst index 9c779b6d..db1b2aed 100644 --- a/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/power-distr.rst +++ b/docs/source/control_hard_compon/rc_components/power_distr/power-distr.rst @@ -126,6 +126,24 @@ Main Power Switch MATRIX (part #50-0030) + .. grid-item-card:: + :class-header: sd-bg-dark font-weight-bold sd-text-white + :class-body: sd-text-left body + + AndyMark Power Switch + + ^^^ + + .. figure:: images/am-4969.jpg + :align: center + :alt: AM-4969 Switch + :width: 50 % + + +++ + + AndyMark (part #am-4969) + + One Main Power Switch must control all power provided by the Main Battery. It along with its label should be placed in accordance to @@ -157,12 +175,29 @@ Power Distribution Block REV (REV-31-1293) + .. grid-item-card:: + :class-header: sd-bg-dark font-weight-bold sd-text-white + :class-body: sd-text-left body + + goBILDA XT30 Power Distribution Block + + + ^^^ + + .. figure:: images/goBILDApdb.jpg + :align: center + :alt: goBildaPDB + :width: 50 % + + +++ + + goBILDA (SKU: 3108-2833-0801) + Power Distribution Blocks help to distribute the power to devices such as Control Hubs, SPARKminis, and more. See :ref:`Game Manual Part 1` -for a description of legal Power Distribution methods. The REV XT30 Power -Distribution Block shown is only one option for distributing power, and is -not the only legal device for power distribution. +for a description of legal Power Distribution methods. The Power +Distribution Blocks shown are not the only legal devices for power distribution. REV Servo Power Module ---------------------- @@ -193,8 +228,8 @@ draws power from a 12V source and provides 6V power to each output servo port. A REV Servo Power Module can provide up to 15A of current across all output servo ports for a total of 90 Watts of power per module. -Commercial USB Battery Pack ---------------------------- +COTS USB Battery Pack +--------------------- .. grid:: 1 2 2 3 :gutter: 2 @@ -209,14 +244,173 @@ Commercial USB Battery Pack .. figure:: images/ankerbattery.png :align: center - :alt: REV-31-1387 + :alt: Anker Pack :width: 50 % +++ Anker Battery Pack -A commercial USB battery pack is an auxiliary power source that can be used in -specific situations in accordance with the -:ref:`Game Manuals` +A Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) USB battery pack is an auxiliary power source +that can be used in specific situations in accordance with the :ref:`Game +Manuals`. In the 2023-2024 +season, these batteries were deemed permissible to power LEDs (per +``f.ii``) and, by extension, COTS light controller sources like the `REV +Blinkin `__ (per ``e``). +However, having a COTS USB External Battery on the Robot carries additional +considerations. All teams must ensure their COTS USB Battery Pack: + +- Is manufactured by a reputable brand. +- Is within standard Watt-hour capacity limits. +- Includes standard safety features. +- Is secured on the Robot. +- Has unused ports covered. +- Is always charged properly. +- Does not show any signs of distress. + +The following sections are intended to help clarify the list above. + +Reputable Brands +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +Far and above, the most important factor regarding the safety of COTS USB +Battery Packs is ensuring that the battery pack was manufactured by a reputable +brand. International testing of COTS USB Battery Packs has concluded that +unbranded batteries, or batteries manufactured by little-known companies, tend +to fail more often than batteries from reputable brands. How do you know what +brands are reputable and which ones are not? That's not always an easy thing to +determine, however brands such as +`Anker `__, +`Belkin `__, +`Otterbox `__, and +`BioLite `__ +are among the most-used brands in the world. *FIRST* Tech Challenge recommends +choosing an internationally reputable brand, even if the brand is more +expensive than a lesser-known brand, as these batteries will be more apt to +follow safety and performance guidelines. NEVER choose a COTS USB Battery +Pack based on its (low) price alone! + +Capacity Limits +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +The recurring theme in most discussions of COTS USB Battery Packs is safety. +The United States Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has strict +limitations on COTS USB Battery Packs on-board planes, and *FIRST* Tech +Challenge has adopted the capacity limit restriction. **Batteries are limited +to 100 Watt-Hours (Wh) or less**. + +How do you calculate Watt-hours? To calculate Watt-hours of a battery, multiply +the Voltage (V) of the battery by its capacity measured in Amp-Hours (Ah). For +example, a 12V battery with 3,000mAh capacity has a 36Wh capacity - when +capacity is measured in milli-Amp Hours (mAh), divide the capacity by 1000 to +get Ah and them multiply by Voltage. However, for COTS USB Battery Packs, the +Voltage cells predominantly used in the packs is **3.7V**, regardless of the +ultimate Voltage provided by the USB ports. Therefore to calculate Wh for a +COTS USB Battery Pack, multiply **3.7V** by the **Ah rating** of the pack. A 25,000mAh +COTS USB Battery Pack has a rating of 92.5Wh. Using this formula, the maximum +capacity COTS USB Battery Pack that is allowed is a **27,000mAh** pack. + +Standard Safety Features +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +The major benefit of using a reputable COTS USB Battery Pack brand is the +guarantee that the battery pack includes standard safety features, including +but not limited to: + +- Reverse Polarity Protection +- Short-Circuit Protection +- Over-Charge Protection +- Over-Temperature or Over-Heat Protection +- Over-Current Protection + +You should perform a good-faith effort to determine if your Battery Pack +contains these safety features. Often within the documentation provided with +your pack it will list the protections offered by the pack. Remember that the +Battery Pack contains Lithium-Ion or Lithium Polymer batteries often will +explode or catch fire when they fail, and these protections are vital to +ensuring that the batteries do not fail prematurely. It is not recommended +to use COTS USB Battery Packs without these protections. + +Securing the Battery Pack to the Robot +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +The leading cause of battery failure is physical damage to the battery. For +COTS USB Battery Packs this is usually attributed to dropping the battery pack, +applying excessive force on the Battery Pack, and subjecting the pack to excessive +shock (which might also damage internal components). In order to prevent damage, +the Battery Pack should be properly secured within the robot. Tips for securing +the battery are: + +- Use Hook and Loop or 3M DualLock fasteners to secure the battery, **OR** +- Store the battery in a tight-fitting or custom-fit enclosure within the robot + that allows the battery to be exposed to air (for cooling), **AND** +- Protect the battery from contact from other robots, game pieces, or field + elements that might breach the perimeter of the robot. + +If utilizing a COTS USB Battery Pack, it is of utmost importance to ensure +that the battery is secured, protected, and ventilated. All batteries (both +main batteries and COTS USB Battery Packs) should be easily accessible and be +able to be quickly removed from the robot in case of an emergency. + +Cover Unused Ports +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +Some COTS USB Battery Packs contain multiple ports, and it is often that not +all ports are in-use while securely mounted to the robot. For example, the +COTS USB Battery Pack may have multiple USB ports, a dedicated charging port, +and other ports as necessary. Any ports that are not in-use (meaning don't have +a USB connector inserted in them) are at great risk of short-circuiting. The +most common reason for short-circuiting is metal fragments that may make their +way into the ports, especially swarf due to metal rubbing together, gears wearing, +or robot maintenance performed while electronics are present. Any unused ports +should be covered using electrical tape, Gaffers Tape, or any other means of +preventing debris from entering the ports. Short circuits may present risks of +excessive heat, fire, or explosion and all reasonable efforts should be taken +to prevent them. + +.. warning:: + Never get a COTS USB Battery Pack wet. If it gets wet, follow the manufacturer's + recommended procedure to clean and dry the battery before continuing use. + +Charge COTS USB Battery Packs properly +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +The owners/instruction manual provided with the COTS USB Battery Pack often +contains instructions for the proper care and maintenance of the battery pack, +including proper charging. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations. +In addition, these are common best practices for charging your Batteries: + +- Avoid charging the power bank on places that build up heat, such as on your + bed or within a bag. +- Unless it's a solar power bank, NEVER leave your battery in the sun! +- Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the time required to fully charge + your COTS USB Battery Pack. +- Avoid leaving your COTS USB Battery Pack on prolonged chage as this may + cause it to overheat. +- If the COTS USB Battery Pack becomes excessively hot during charging or + discharging, unplug it from the power source or powered device immediately + and allow it to cool before doing anything else with the battery. + +Checking for signs of distress +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +Most COTS USB Battery Packs are contained within a hard plastic shell in order +to protect and package the battery cell(s) within. Therefore it can be +difficult to determine if the battery is showing signs of failure and distress. +Here are several tips for identifying a failing battery: + +- Check for Leaking Power Cells. Similar to an acid leak in an alkaline battery, + check to see if there are any signs of corrosion or acid leak from the + battery pack. This might be difficult to determine, so stay vigilent. If signs + of acid or corrosion are present, dispose of the battery per the manufacturer's + recommendations immediately with extreme prejudice. +- Look for bulging within the battery casing. When Lithium batteries fail, often + they will begin to bulge like a balloon. If the case of the battery shows any + signs of pressure from within, dispose of the battery per the manufacturer's + recommendations immediately with extreme prejudice. +- Test the battery pack for any non-functional ports. Sometimes non-functional + ports can be an early sign of internal damage. DO NOT use batteries that + are suspected of being damaged - dispose of the battery per the manufacturer's + recommendations immediately. +