Cortex Repair?

[wadesims2000]

Is it possible and legal to repair a integrated motor controller circuit on a cortex. Like on ports 1+10. The Fairchild FDS4935BZ Dual 30 Volt P-Channel PowerTrench MOSFET fails on the cortex quite often in my experience. I have several that have burned up.

[Kevin_Boenisch]

Repairing something on the inside would not be competition legal. You can however contact VEX to send it back to see if they can repair it.

[technyk32]

I just want to ask, why would that not be competition legal? If you used the exact same component, there would be no difference. That happened to one of our cortexes, but I’m not asking because of that; there’s no hope for that cortex anymore since the component melted through the circuit board.

[lacsap]

I just want to ask, why would that not be competition legal? If you used the exact same component, there would be no difference. That happened to one of our cortexes, but I’m not asking because of that; there’s no hope for that cortex anymore since the component melted through the circuit board.

Specifically, competition rule from Nothing But Net (probably every other game too, but I have not researched this) <R15> says you may not.

<R15> Parts may NOT be modified as follows:
a. Motors (including the internal PTC), extension cords, sensors, controllers, battery packs, reservoirs, solenoids, pistons and any other electrical component or pneumatics component of the VEX Robotics Design System may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.
i. Internal or external mechanical repairs of VEX Limit and Bumper switches are permitted; using components from these devices in other applications is prohibited
ii. External wires on VEX electrical components may be repaired by soldering, using twist/crimp connectors, electrical tape or shrink tubing such that the original functionality / length is not modified in any way. Wire used in repairs must be identical to VEX wire. Teams may make these repairs at their own risk; incorrect wiring may have undesired results.
iii. Teams may change or replace the gears in the “2-Wire 393” or “2-Wire 269” motors, with the corresponding official VEX Replacement Gears
iv. Teams may cut pneumatic tubing to a desired length

Permissible repairs are spelled out in i., ii., and iii.

[Kevin_Boenisch]

I just want to ask, why would that not be competition legal? If you used the exact same component, there would be no difference. That happened to one of our cortexes, but I’m not asking because of that; there’s no hope for that cortex anymore since the component melted through the circuit board.

<R15> Parts may NOT be modified as follows:
a. Motors (including the internal PTC), extension cords, sensors, controllers, battery packs,
reservoirs, solenoids, pistons and any other electrical component or pneumatics component of
the VEX Robotics Design System may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.
i. Internal or external mechanical repairs of VEX Limit and Bumper switches are
permitted; using components from these devices in other applications is prohibited
ii. External wires on VEX electrical components may be repaired by soldering, using
twist/crimp connectors, electrical tape or shrink tubing such that the original functionality
/ length is not modified in any way. Wire used in repairs must be identical to VEX wire.
Teams may make these repairs at their own risk; incorrect wiring may have
undesired results.
iii. Teams may change or replace the gears in the “2-Wire 393” or “2-Wire 269” motors,
with the corresponding official VEX Replacement Gears
iv. Teams may cut pneumatic tubing to a desired length

No modifying of electrical components is allowed except for fixing the cables (and limit switches). While being allowed to fix electronics would have an advantage for honest competitors that know what they’re doing, the risk of doing an improper repair or the rule being abused would probably be much too large. For example, how would anyone ever find out if a PTC is “repaired” with one that has a higher rating.

[technyk32]

No modifying of electrical components is allowed except for fixing the cables (and limit switches). While being allowed to fix electronics would have an advantage for honest competitors that know what they’re doing, the risk of doing an improper repair or the rule being abused would probably be much too large. For example, how would anyone ever find out if a PTC is “repaired” with one that has a higher rating.

Yeah, we were discussing this in the car on the way to a build today, and honestly I don’t know. I would hope that teams would not abuse that, but unfortunately, there are some that would.