Skycube: Mounting the battery pack

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Battery pack ready to use with the Skycube board. Four AAA batteries are needed (Click to enlarge)

Introduction

To power the electronics (Skycube board) a flat battery pack of 4 AAA is used. It can be connected to the molex connector on either sides of the board.

The parts needed are the following::

  • A flat battery pack, for 4 AAA batteries
  • A two-pin female molex connector
  • Two pins for the molex connector
  • Two pieces of heat shrink tube. Diameter: 2mm. Length: 10mm
Beginning. Parts needed to mount the battery (Click to enlarge)
End. The battery pack is ready to use with the Skycube board (Click to enlarge)


Mounting

Step 1: Twist the wires

Twist the battery pack wires. It is optional, but it is recommended to do it. The resulting wire is more compact and resistent. In addition it will easier to wire the robot.

The battery pack with the twisted wires (Click to enlarge)

Step 2: Insert the heat shrink tubes

Insert the heat shrink tubes in both wires, as shown in the figure. Do not apply heat still.

The heat shrink tubes in the wires (Click to enlarge)

Step 3: Apply solder in the wires ends

Use the soldering iron to apply solder in both wire ends. This will make easier to solder the male molex pins


Wires with solder (Click to enlarge)

Step 4: Apply solder in the molex male pins

Apply solder in the molex male pins. Just a little bit in the base is enough.

Pins with solder (Click to enlarge)

Step 5: Solder the pins to the wires

Solder the pins to the wires. Use a flat nose plier for holding the pin. Bring the wire near the pin and apply heat with the soldering iron. As both the pin and cable have solder their soldering will be done very easily.

Wires with soldered pins

Step 6: Apply heat to the shrink tubes

Place the heat shrink tubes in the lower half of each pin. Apply heat with the soldering iron. The shrink tubes will both prevent shortcircuits and make the union more resistent.

Applying heat to the shrink tubes

Step 7: Insert the wirtes into the female molex connector

Insert the pins into the female molex connector. ¡¡¡PAY ATTENTION TO THE POLARITY!!!. The red wire will be inserted in the hole 1. For inserting it is recommended to use a flat nose plier. If the pin does not enter smoothly use the pliers to smash a little bit the parts that cannot be inserted. When the pin is inserted correctly a slight click will be hear and the wire will not get when pulled.


1) Wires connected to the molex connector. ¡Very important! (Click to enlarge)
2) Insert the red wire into the hole 1 (Click to enlarge)
3) The molex connector is attached. ¡¡Be careful with the placement of wires!! (Click to enlarge)
4) The battery pack is finished! (Click to enlarge)

Step 8: Installing the batteries

Finally install the four AAA batteries. The battery pack is ready for testing!

Battery pack with 4 AAA batteries (Click to enlarge)

Testings

  1. Connect the batteries to the Skycube power top connector.
  2. Turn on the board by means of the red switch. The red led will turn on.
  3. Connect the batteries pack to the power bottom connector. The red led will also turn on.
1) Connecting the batteries to the Skycube power top connector (Click to enlarge)
2) Switch on the board. The red led will turn on (Click to enlarge)
3) Connecting the batteries to the Skycube power bottom connector (Click to enlarge)

Pictures

Photo album

Links

News

  • Feb/19th/2011: This page is started
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