Electrical Terminology

Quick reference for all the terminology used in these docs and outside

• Wire gauge: a number used to indicate the diameter of the wire, but more than its diameter the amount of power it can carry. (Wire Gauges)

• Crimping: the process of making a joint in a wire run that allows for easy connection and disconnection. (Crimping)

• Motor Controller: device that takes CAN and power input and modulates power fed to motor. (motors)

• Wire stripping: removing the insulation at the end of a wire so that it can be crimped

• PDH, MPM, VRM: power distribution components, (Power Distribution)

• Rio: Brain of the robot, (Command-Electrical Interface and the Rio)

• Status Lights: indicator lights which are found on most electronic components. (Status Lights)

• Wire break: a break in a run of wire, usually for a set of crimps such as Andersons or Molexs. Breaks often provide useful access to metal and make replacing a stretch easier, however they introduce failure points.

• Molex: a form of wire crimp for CAN or small power wire (18-22 gauge) (Crimping)

• Anderson: a form of wire crimp for 10+12 gauge power wire (Crimping)

• Limelight: a camera used for pose (Page to be added)

• CAN: wires that communicate with all components of robot (CAN)