Subject:
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RE: External Power Port Problem..?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 2 Dec 1999 00:51:52 GMT
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Viewed:
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458 times
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> To be safe, you could use a small 1A fuse. You can buy in-line fuse holders
> in electronics parts stores. It's a little black tube with a screw on cap,
> and wires or solder tabs on both ends. Just tape it to your battery pack.
> Another possibility is an 12V automotive light bulb in series with the
> battery pack. You will have to try a few to find one that doesn't light up
> under normal operating conditions. The resistance of a light bulb is almost
> zero if cold (not lit), but goes up significantly when it gets hot (lights
> up). That limits the current and protects your RCX, and at the same time
> gives you a visual indication that something is wrong. This setup is
> sometimes used by Model Railroaders where shorts are a frequent occurence.
Whenever you use a battery pack, use a FUSE!!!!!! I work on products that use
the 12V gel cels rated at 4AH or greater, you can find them in security panels
etc.
Anyways, one day a guy in the drafting department measured the distance between
the terminals with - wait for it - a metal ruler.
Needless to say, the ruler was instantly welded to the terminals, the cork on
the back of the ruler started to smoke, and the ruler got VERY hot.
Cordless drill battery packs and pockets full of steel wool (if you are a
woodworker) produce equally spectacular effects.
Cheers,
Ralph Hempel - P.Eng
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Check out pbFORTH for LEGO Mindstorms at:
<http://www.hempeldesigngroup.com/lego/pbFORTH>
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Reply to: rhempel at bmts dot com
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | RE: External Power Port Problem..?
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| To be safe, you could use a small 1A fuse. You can buy in-line fuse holders in electronics parts stores. It's a little black tube with a screw on cap, and wires or solder tabs on both ends. Just tape it to your battery pack. Another possibility is (...) (25 years ago, 2-Dec-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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