Thursday, January 14, 2010

The ABC's of FIRST - The letter F

F is for fuse.

A fuse is a device that protects the electrical components of the robot in case a component begins drawing too much current. In the classic term, a fuse is an inline device that melts and disintegrates when too much current is passed through it. This breaks the flow of electricity, thus protecting the circuit.

Today, fuses on a FIRST Robotics Competition robot are "circuit breakers" that can be reset if the current threshold is exceeded. Each kit of parts contains various sizes of fuses that are used in specific areas of the robot's circuit. Fuses are inserted into the power distribution panel, which is the main hub for routing power through the robot.

It is very import to use the proper gauge wire on the different circuits on the robot. Refer to the documentation for more information.

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