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First Lego League in Virginia and DC

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From:
John Barrett <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Date:
Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:14:52 -0400
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After three seasons, our pair of robots become very unreliable.  Back to 
back runs of the same program started to yield vastly different 
results.  We were using the rechargeable battery pack and even when they 
were fully charged, the robots continued to act odd.  Our junior coach 
suggested replacing the packs with new AAs, just to check.  Since it 
involved disassembling the robots, we were reluctant.  He insisted and 
lo and behold, the robots were once again running consistently.  That 
evening, we ordered a new pair of rechargeable battery packs.  Since 
then, the robots have been running consistently.

My advice?  Use the rechargeable battery packs and replace them every 
two or three years.

John
Lake Anne Sea Monsters

On 10/20/2010 10:03 AM, Sonya Shaver wrote:
> Yes, this is my ultimate dilemma also.  We have used the rechargeable 
> battery pack for two years.  This year we began using the same one for 
> the third year, but we went ahead and replaced it and are now using a 
> new one.  I think the advantage is not having to disassemble the robot 
> and change the batteries, not wasting all those batteries, or not 
> having to worry about taking out the batteries and recharging them. 
>  With the rechargeable battery pack, you just plug it in.  And you can 
> check what the charge is on it if you feel like it is faltering.  I 
> feel like this is working okay for us, but I am wondering if I am 
> missing something!
>
> Sonya
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 9:48 AM, Jude Arulpragasam 
> <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
>     I would like to know if there is any advantage using re-chargeable
>     battery pack over individual AA batteries'?
>     I just bought new re-chargeable DC battery pack (NXT
>     <http://www.legoeducation.us/store/detail.aspx?CategoryID=178&by=9&ID=1971&c=1&t=0&l=0>
>     Rechargeable DC Battery (W979693) from Lego website.
>
>     Please give me some pros and cons  on this
>
>     Thanks
>
>     Jude
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:36:44 -0700
>     From: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>     Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] NXT batery warning
>     To: [log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>     Our team started using AA batteries instead of the rechargeable
>     battery pack. But when they had to change the batteries, they had
>     dismantle the robot to get to the battery compartment. I am
>     worried that the kids will not put back the robot perfectly, if
>     they have to do this just before the tournament to have fresh
>     batteries in. Is that how it is normally done?
>
>     thanks
>     Gaja
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     *From:* Jerry Lorengo <[log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>     *To:* [log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>     *Sent:* Fri, October 8, 2010 3:28:54 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] NXT batery warning
>
>     Agreed - always use fresh AAs.
>
>     The recharchable batter has a goofy memory and the voltage drop
>     will make reproducibility for missions almost impossible.
>
>     Sent from my iPhone
>
>     On Oct 8, 2010, at 12:48 PM, Lloyd O'Hara <[log in to unmask]>
>     wrote:
>
>         We only use batteries and always make sure we have plenty on hand.
>         Also, I'm sure why you would take 2 sets of four AA batteries,
>         the nxt takes six AA..
>         Lloyd
>
>             ----- Original Message -----
>             *From:* Viquar Shaikh
>             *To:* [log in to unmask]
>             *Sent:* Friday, October 08, 2010 10:50 AM
>             *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] NXT batery warning
>
>             To add to this --- no matter what - we always carry 2 sets
>             of four AA batteries - one is a new packed set. This is a
>             good backup for these 'just-in-case' scenarios.
>             Thanks
>             Viquar
>
>             On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 10:32 AM, Brandy bergenstock
>             <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>                 This came across the Ga FLL yahoo group adn I thought
>                 it was important for everyone to realize:
>
>                 The other day my team had taken one of their NXT
>                 bricks with them to a meeting.  When we got home, the
>                 battery was completely discharged. After recharging
>                 it, my  daughter discovered that the "Sleep" setting
>                 was at 60 minutes. The brick had  accidentally turned
>                 on during transport and since the sleep setting was so
>                 long,  it ran the battery down. We discovered that the
>                 60 minute setting is the default for both the 1.26 and
>                 1.31 firmware update. That is WAY too long!
>
>                 If you have updated your firmware, you should check
>                 the sleep setting and change  it is a more reasonable
>                 time (perhaps in the 2-5 minute time frame). This way
>                 you won't accidentally run down your battery. I'd hate
>                 for someone to discover their battery was dead when
>                 they arrived at a competition.
>
>                 To access the sleep setting on the NXT brick, go to:
>
>                 Settings
>                 Sleep
>                 and then change the time with the arrow buttons
>
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-- 

John J. Barrett
Industrial Medium Software, Inc.
1616 Anderson Road
McLean, VA 22102

(c) 703-231-5094
(p) 703-286-0818
(f) 703-286-0888

http://www.industrialmedium.com


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