Elisabeth van Son, I did not suggested that we have to use industrial components but I have yet to find a €œhobby based€ link that will carry 100 plus amps and work safely as a disconnect device.

We must use components that the insurance companies accept as of suitable quality.
There is not much in a serious heavyweight that you can find in a hobby store.

Our shows are already large public events and must be insured, at least here in the UK.
If we EOs dont get our act together then the insurers will impose their rules on us.

As for not being able to pull the link out by hand, or a hand extended by a long pole when the robot is dangerous, then what are you using for a link?
If you read my post again you will see that the cover plate is removed by the same pulling action, it does not have to be removed first.
If you don€™t want a cover plate, then fine, leave the link uncovered with its rope loop hanging out.


I have used the Anderson (now called Rema) 160 amp welding connectors for my robots for some time.

I have fitted them with a rope loop and a swift pull on the rope removes them every time.
They do not fall out on their own ever, and I find them ideal for the job.

They are rated at 160 amps continuously and considerably more than that for several minutes.

They cost about £7 or 10 Euros each, retail, so can be afforded by all. They are easily available and many of the UK robots use them as standard. The 50 amp ones cost about £3 (5 Euros) each but will not carry the current required for a heavyweight robot.

It is these that I based my idea upon, but it would work just as well with the big fuse holders that some roboteers use.


Daniel, I have already covered your point about damaged links or cover plates by disallowing attacks on the link or its cover plate.
The link is our primary safety device, so it must be protected from attack.

Any robot that deliberately attacks the link would be disqualified, if it is damaged by accident then the fight is paused while it is inspected or fixed.

If we want to have fighting arenas in public then we must make concessions to safety and therefore protect our safety devices.

If we don€™t then we soon won€™t be able to get insurance cover and have to stop the events.

It looks extremely likely that RW on TV is on its last series so the future of robot fighting is in our hands at our public events.