Answered: Legality of "homebrew" pwm extentions

[anon50541363]

@Chuck_Glick

After reading through the robot rules several times, I am coming here for an official answer.

As per <R6a> and <R7b>, teams are allowed to used parts that are identical in use to their respective IFI official counterparts.

Being this is the case per the rules, if a team were to make their own pwm extentions that are the same length as the ones sold via IFI, but don’t utilize 3 wire ribbon cable but rather individual wires protected by cable wrap and heat shrink at the ends, would they be legal? The heat shrink and cable wrap are purely for aesthetics and could be easily replaced with legal zip ties.

These cables are functionally the same as the IFI cables and offer no competitive advantage other than saving our teams a few bucks here and there.

Situation A: Team makes cables that are same length as standard IFI cables and use heat shrink and cable wrap.

Situation B: Team makes cables that are same length as standard IFI cables and use zip ties along length to bundle.

*This question is posted as a MS/HS question as custom electronics are legal per the college rules.

Neither of these situations would be legal, as neither cable would be identical to standard VEX PWM cables.

[Karthik]

@Chuck_Glick

After reading through the robot rules several times, I am coming here for an official answer.

As per <R6a> and <R7b>, teams are allowed to used parts that are identical in use to their respective IFI official counterparts.

Being this is the case per the rules, if a team were to make their own pwm extentions that are the same length as the ones sold via IFI, but don’t utilize 3 wire ribbon cable but rather individual wires protected by cable wrap and heat shrink at the ends, would they be legal? The heat shrink and cable wrap are purely for aesthetics and could be easily replaced with legal zip ties.

These cables are functionally the same as the IFI cables and offer no competitive advantage other than saving our teams a few bucks here and there.

Situation A: Team makes cables that are same length as standard IFI cables and use heat shrink and cable wrap.

Situation B: Team makes cables that are same length as standard IFI cables and use zip ties along length to bundle.

*This question is posted as a MS/HS question as custom electronics are legal per the college rules.

Neither of these situations would be legal, as neither cable would be identical to standard VEX PWM cables.

[Karthik]

You’re welcome!