Technology Tips from Thomas Eng: Anderson Powerpoles

The Modern Robotics (MR) Core Power Distribution Module (PDM) and the 12V 3000mAh battery are equipped with Tamiya electrical connectors. The PDM’s power input cable has a male Tamiya connector and the 12V battery has a female Tamiya connector.

      

Figure 1 - The PDM and the 12V Battery have Tamiya electrical connectors.

The Tamiya connector is a common type of connector often used in the RC model industry. The Tamiya connector is a keyed type of electrical connector. This means that the shape of the connector prevents a user from improperly connecting two electrical components together. For the PDM, the square shaped component of the Tamiya connector matches the square shaped (positive) receptacle on the battery’s female Tamiya connector. The PDM’s circular shaped component matches the circular shaped (negative) receptacle on battery’s female Tamiya connector.

The Tamiya connectors work well, but the internal components can stretch and loosen after repeated connect-disconnect cycles. Users sometimes take a small flat bladed screw driver and manually tighten up metal pieces within the connector.

Figure 2 - Tamiya connectors can become loose with repeated disconnect/connect cycles.

Some users prefer to replace the Tamiya connectors with a different, more robust connector. The Anderson Powerpole is a popular type of connector. The Powerpole connectors typically do not become loose with repeated disconnect/connect cycles.

Figure 3 - Anderson Powerpole users must ensure red (positive) wires match and that the black (negative) wires match.

Users who attempt to replace their Tamiya connectors with Anderson Powerpoles have to be extremely careful! Unlike the Tamiya connectors, the Anderson Powerpoles are not keyed.  This means that when the Powerpoles are improperly assembled, a user can incorrectly connect the negative terminal of the battery to the positive input cable of the PDM and connect the positive terminal of the battery to the negative input cable of the PDM.  This reverse polarity situation will damage to the PDM!

Figure 4 - If the Powerpole connectors are assembled improperly, the users can damage their PDM!!!

Users who would like to use the Powerpole connectors have to be extremely careful:

•     Modifying the Modern Robotics Power Distribution Module will void the manufacturer’s warranty! Users should not attempt to modify their hardware if they do not understand the risks of incorrectly assembling their Powerpole connectors.
• ·  Teams should verify that their Modern Robotics modules work before attempting to make any alterations. The manufacturer is happy to examine any non-working PDMs, but the manufacturer will not honor the warranty repair if the device appears to be damaged as a result of modifications made to the module.
• ·   Instead of modifying the PDM, users should consider only modifying the battery, and use an adapter to connect the PDM to the battery.

  

Figure 5 - Users can make an adapter to connect the PDM's Tamiya connector to the battery's Powerpole connector.

Users should not attempt to install the Anderson Powerpole connectors if they do not understand the risks of improperly assembling them. Also, instead of modifying the Power Distribution Module directly, if a user would like to employ Anderson Powerpoles, he/she can make an adapter that would let the male Tamiya connector of the PDM connect to the Anderson Powerpole connector on the battery.

Also note that users should NOT attempt to connect power from the battery to the 12V power distribution panel on the PDM.  Input power to the PDM should only be connected to the input power cable.

Figure 6 - Input power should not be connected to the power distribution ports.

Details on how to modify your battery to use Anderson Powerpoles can be found in the FTC Wiring Guide:
http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/Robotics_Programs/FTC/Team_Resources/robot-wiring-guide.pdf).