Removable Link

I decided for reason better known to myself to mount the removable link on the front of the robot above the spike. The rules say it must be away from weapons but were not specific as to how far.

OK so the reasons were three:-

1) If the robot ended up on his side only the front or back would be accessible.

2) The armour is sprung loaded and to give access at the rear would make removing the top more difficult.

3) The batteries and motor controllers were all mounted at the front so to keep the wiring route short the link should also be at the front.

The link itself was fitted between the two 12v sealed lead acid batteries, it was in fact the bridging wire between the two. For this reason everything on the robot including the computer fans on the controllers ran on 24v. The link was made from a fork truck charger plug and 40mm squared arc welding wire. For information it wasn't easy to solder!!!

The motor controllers I had bought did not have any reverse polarity protection because they were more money. In order to prevent an expensive accident the battery tray had a wooden front which would prevent the link wires being connected if the batteries were the wrong way round. The main positive and negative wires were also fixed to prevent incorrect fitment.

I disguised the link with a red plastic cover to make it look like Ruf Ruf Dougal's tongue.

The tips page has more information about link positions.

Series 6 Modifications......

This was the most needed modification for series 6. After the link got pulled out during filming and the problems in the pig pen, the link had to be moved.
Due to the sprung loaded armour we had to cut a large hole in the back of the robot to insert the plug. This was covered with a self sprung plastic cover to protect it.

The much longer wires from the front to the back were twisted and covered in Aluminium foil to reduce radio interference.

Battery Connections
Link Plug	Cabling for series 6
New Battery Wiring	Plastic Link Cover