Hello everyone, my team recently got V5 and we’re in the process of switching over, and a question came to mind:
If our battery cable breaks, can we use a non-vex Molex cable? I build computers, and built my current PC in February, and it has no need for a Molex cable
For example, our VEX cable no longer brings a charge to the brain. Could I use my spare Molex as a temporary solution until I get a new one?
Are you sure it is a problem with the cable? Make sure that you have the latest firmware on the battery as there has been a problem with earlier versions of the firmware. There are several threads on here that address battery issues. Check them out.
I tried searching and searching for a cable that matches for the V5 brain, and despite all the time I spent I was unable to find a cable that is built for the V5 brain. Unless you or someone else finds a cable with the same exact ports, the only way to get - new cable is to contact vex sales or you may have to buy the V5 brain again. The battery cable is EXTREMELY important and I would deem is just as valuable as the V5 brain itself.
This is hypothetical, it hasn’t happened, and hopefully won’t happen
I have been building computers for several years now and have never seen a connector that is the same as the one on the V5 Battery cable. Perhaps you are talking about one the of the other Molex-style connectors that came with your PSU? If so, these wouldn’t work.
As for legality, it is illegal to use such non-Vex parts in competition.
Ah, thank you. I will protect this cable with my life
Now that I think about it, it looks like the PSU Molex is slightly larger? I didn’t have a direct comparison, but that’s what it looks like
FYI, the bat cable is another weak point for V5. This was the end attached to the Brain. It was probably caused b/c the Brain and battery are orthogonal to each other.
Oh thank you, I’ll keep this in mind. My teammate wanted to have the cable like this for space reasons, but I said no
Where would one buy a replacement/spare cable from? I looked at the Vex V5 product page and under V5 battery it clearly says “Battery power cable and charger not included. (Power cable ships with V5 Robot Brain)”. So you would have to pay $250 for a replacement cable. But even that is not possible, as brains are not being shipped. I know complaining about the V5 issues is not at all helpful, but this is just super unreasonable, it’s just a cable… Did anyone figure out yet what type of connector that is (yes, yes, I know it is illegal, dangerous and so on, but since I need to guard that cable with my life, I would like to have one for building/practicing so I don’t have to constantly worry about it and instead go build/practice)? Anyone on the dark web selling these?
Just call support, they are likely to send a replacement for one you damaged.
@lacsap:
Thanks. I did not damage one yet, just being paranoid for this weekend’s competition. It’s nerve-racking to run on equipment that you know you can’t fix/replace in time if it breaks (we already killed a motor and a brain port)… I’m sure by the end of this season there will be many great stories of teams helping each other by lending their stuff to the ones in need.
The great thing about events, is there are so many really helpful teams who step up to help out.
I think it would be best to find the battery cable and plug for the VEX battery. Although many say it’s illegal, I don’t think it would be illegal, as long as the purpose is justified as legal in the rules. If I am not mistaken the rules state that it is perfectly legal to repair components if they break.
The battery cable is a custom Molex connector manufactured specifically for VEX (See Paul C’s comments in this thread: https://vexforum.com/t/v5-render-release-thoughts/44893/1). From what I can find on Molex’s website, it was derived from the Mega-Fit line (https://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/1700010108_CRIMP_HOUSINGS.xml). Those seem to have the same pitch and general dimensions. They don’t make a commercially available 1x4 connector in that line, though, and even if they did it looks like the geometry differs on the VEX cable from the rest of those connectors. Looks like the only option is going to be getting VEX battery cables.
@nnolte:
Thanks for all the useful info, a completely desperate person left on a deserted island with his/her trusty V5 clawbot might potentially take one of these
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/538-45136-0801
and cut it in half with a solar powered dremel. Just hypothetical of course.
I got really close with this one: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Wurth-Electronics/662004013322?qs=sGAEpiMZZMs%2bGHln7q6pm1g2HIpDMMemxnZzAPCorGfH2iuWLTYx6A%3D%3D
Only difference I see is the battery clip
You’ll need to make it bigger, too. The pitch on that one (distance between pins) is 3.00 mm, the VEX one is 5.70 mm.
O O F
Just wanted to update this thread. An assorted pack of V5 Power Cables has just been added to the VEX Website. (Currently only available in the US) This pack includes three cables at various lengths (180mm, 300mm, and 500mm).
It can be found here: https://www.vexrobotics.com/276-4817.html
For reference, 180mm is the length of the cable included in V5 Kits & System Bundles.
sweet!