Questions/builds thread.

Thanks for the input. We were aware but not openly saying it to ourselves that the business with the link is a possibility. It would be merely a minute or two of running them, if that, just after a fight, to keep things under control. We would use heatsinks, but for the space and weight we have they are not practical. Especially since they may capture heat, but if that heat is not removed or dissipated somehow (i.e., fans) then they're useless. Regarding fans failing, you make a good point. If they shake themselves to bits then oh well, lesson learned. Truth is the likelihood of us being able to enter a robot into a competition (like the UK FW champs, when are they by the way?) is quite small, so they will be fine for just demonstrations and such.

You could participate in one of the 2 German events. Also called MMM's. Those are Full Combat, that means spinners included.

Most Dutch events are also FCC.

Hi, quick question. Does the power for a receiver, be it via a BEC or a separate battery pack, have to pass through the main link? So the main link kills main drive motor batteries, and also the receiver battery all in one go? We're having one or two issues since we are trying to do this. Either we have a fault in our wiring or we suspect the speed controllers are leaking so to speak, lighting LEDS when they shouldn't be lit, etc.

It seems slightly odd to me if the receiver battery must pass through the main link too, considering that if the link is out, the receiver can go wrong and send as many signals as it likes all day long and since the link is out, no speed controllers will be listening, and so nothing can move or do anything potentially dangerous.

Either way, would be nice to know. If it doesn't need to go through the link, it will make our lives rather more simple!

Thanks.

no it doesnt, you just have a switch at the side of your link. Most people use a BEC, therefore the RX power is killed by the link, i prefer using a BEC as its easy to forget to turn the RX off, and when you go to the next fight found your RX battery is dead.

It doesn't? That's brilliant news! OK great, so if we keep it like so, we only need an external switch, which we already have anyway. This makes things much easier! Feels a little like being defeated, since we simply can't work out where our fault is and now we'll just bypass it anyway. Never mind. Also, it hadn't occurred to me, but as you say a BEC would kill all power to the RX when the link is out anyway.

OK, thanks again, I can't believe I almost didn't ask the question! :proud:

We just got an 18v test run...

Mother of God. :shock:

Any vids of it? :)

fast? im guessing, i ran 2 12v argos drills at 18v, was a bit dissapointed with the speed, it seems to be too fast for everyone else

Yes, fast! I don't have any vids yet, we need more space to let it stretch its legs and so as to not put anything at risk (I can't control it in my house well enough). We will probably go to the local sports centre and run it. Big open rubbery floor - should be perfect.

I was very surprised at 12v by it's agility, but as I say 18v its a whole different ball game. I don't know how you could be disappointed in it to be honest! Much faster and it starts getting impractical. We discovered that without components that can take the current draw, it's much slower. Still nippy, but restricted. We have big thick cables, a battery capable of discharging fast enough (we think), a just-about meaty enough link, big high current switches, etc. Then again with everything in but armour and a weapon, it weighs 8kgs. Maybe that's why it's so batty, no real weight to it yet. I have 4 drills, not two. And 100mm wheels...

i think the murphy's law that ran 18v was about 9-10kg 2wd, on a 4000mah nimh pack, didn't really see any change from 12v