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Official Q&A: VRC 2018-2019: Turning Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

188: Wire Protection

Douglas Tweedt
18-Dec-2018

Is is legal to add wire protection against static build up by providing a copper wrap or shielding for the wires. We believe we have lost 2 motor ports on our V5 brain possibly due to this. It has been on our long runs of wires from the brain to the motor and has happened to 2 different ports with the same motor run. I know it has not been shown to absolutely be the cause, but ther are theories that this is a possibility. We would like to try these systems and still be competition legal. We were looking at copper wrap or wire shielding systems. The systems would be solely for protecting the wires. The systems we are looking at are as follows:

https://www.electriduct.com/Flexo-Conductive-Braided-Sleeving.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172810245663

http://a.co/d/efQ4wCp

Thank you

R7  
Answered by Game Design Committee

Yes, this would be considered a legal form of cable protection under <R7j>.

<R7> Robots are allowed the following additional “non-VEX” components:

j. Commercially available items used solely for bundling or wrapping of 2-wire, 3-wire, 4-wire,or V5 Smart Cables, and pneumatic tubing are allowed. These items must solely be used for the purposes of cable protection, organization, or management. This includes but is not limited to electrical tape, cable carrier, cable track, etc. It is up to inspectors to determine whether a component is serving a function beyond protecting and managing cables.