Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Mechanics and Construction => Mechanics and Construction => Topic started by: desert1940fox on April 08, 2010, 03:32:44 PM

Title: how to get motorcycle battery to power robot
Post by: desert1940fox on April 08, 2010, 03:32:44 PM
Hi,

Does anyone know exactly what equipment, cables, battery, I need to power a robot?
I want to use the beagleboard that uses 5V dc and make a medium size robot.
It will have a motor and wheels that uses 12V dc power.

Specifically, how would I connect a motorcycle battery to it.  like how do they hook up?
Title: Re: how to get motorcycle battery to power robot
Post by: waltr on April 08, 2010, 08:57:36 PM
Start by reading the SoR tutorials. Link is above under the page title, just click on "Robot Tutorials".
Lots of good beginner info there.
Title: Re: how to get motorcycle battery to power robot
Post by: Soeren on April 09, 2010, 03:01:20 PM
Hi,

Just want to make you aware of the fact that motorcycle batteries are not made for deep cycling, so will not live a long life in such an application.

(That said, I have used common car batteries for 'bots, but calculated with the shorter life of them then).
Title: Re: how to get motorcycle battery to power robot
Post by: corrado33 on April 11, 2010, 11:03:50 AM
In case you didn't know, by deep cycling, soeren means being discharged a lot, then charged again.  Like rechargeable AA batteries you would buy at wall mart.  You use them until they are "dead", then you charge them.  Automotive and bike batteries are constantly charged by the alternator (at least I think bikes have alternators), so without that constant charge, they'd die rather quickly.  (Well quickly is a relative term, but you get the idea).