The missing power in/power out connector, Minimal undoable NXT mod Options

[PTP]

One thing I really miss on the NXT is a battery power in/out port. After taking the thing apart looking for places to add extra ports and considering building Philos power supply from port A I setteled for a simpler solution. This port can be used for two things
1) supplying battery voltage with no restrictions to things like the Mindsensors MotorMux och Cameras (and its right next to the sensor ports the mux connects to)
2) As a connector for a stationary power supply (you should remove any batterys before conneting external power).
Since nothing is soldered in its easy to remove. A small almost unnoticable modificaton of the battery cover and under the red power line is all that is needed. You could of cause get other voltages than full battery power by moving the red lead to other places in the battery compartment

Attached File(s)

 Powermod.jpg ( 56.37k ) Number of downloads: 321

 

[Sivan Toledo]

One thing I really miss on the NXT is a battery power in/out port. After taking the thing apart loking for places to add extra ports and considering building Philos power supply from port A I setteled for a simpler solution. This port can be used for two things 1) supplying battery voltage with no restrictions to things like the Mindsensors MotorMux och Cameras 2) As a connector for a stationary power supplay (you shold remove any batterys before conneting external power). Since nothing is soldered in its easy to remove. A small almost unnoticable modificaton of the battery cover and under the red power line is all that is needed. You could of cause get other voltages than full battery power by moving the read lead to other places in the battery compartment

Very nice.

[PTP]

There is a small space behind the battery poles that you can use as "connectors" if the ends of the leads are fitted with some flexible metal of the right thickness. And there is also just enough place for the red lead to fit free from the cover.

Attached File(s)

 closeuppowemod.jpg ( 97.36k ) Number of downloads: 208

 

[synapticbackfire]

WoW,What a amazing mod, thanks a lot and keep up the good work.

/me shuffles off to get a few spare parts to create the same effect.

[PTP]

Got the Mindsensors MotorMux I needed the the mod for today. Works like a charm. You have to turn all running motors off in software though before the NXT is turned off, otherwise they just keep spinning...
If you already have old type motors this thing is a "must have". And with the custom NXT-G block it´s easily programmable.

Attached File(s)

 mux.jpg ( 55.54k ) Number of downloads: 171
 mux_block.jpg ( 55.16k ) Number of downloads: 111

 

[synapticbackfire]

Got the Mindsensors MotorMux I needed the the mod for today. Works like a charm. You have to turn all running motors off in software though before the NXT is turned off, otherwise they just keep spinning...
If you already have old type motors this thing is a "must have". And with the custom NXT-G block it´s easily programmable.

So PTP when can we look foward to seeing the Case you make for the motormux?

[222doc]

is that a block that can be down loaded? or did you make it? Hum i want one now.

[Philo]

is that a block that can be down loaded? or did you make it? Hum i want one now.

Yes, you can get it here (MTRMX-Nx.zip).

[Philo]

One thing I really miss on the NXT is a battery power in/out port. After taking the thing apart looking for places to add extra ports and considering building Philos power supply from port A I setteled for a simpler solution.

Good job, PTP! I have added a link on my port A page.
Two differences (that can be a plus or minus depending on applications):

• current limitation
• power swiched by NXT on/off

[Golem]

is that a block that can be down loaded? or did you make it? Hum i want one now.

Also see this table of all released NXT-G blocks:
www.nxtasy.org/repository/nxt-g-blocks/

[PTP]

Good job, PTP! I have added a link on my port A page.
Two differences (that can be a plus or minus depending on applications):

• current limitation
• power swiched by NXT on/off

The power not beeing switched off is quite anoying with the motor mux as the state of a motor remains the same until the same port get a different command. Will probably add a small power reset button to the mux or a power switch on the supplying power cord.

Is direct battery power enough do drive any of the wireless cameras directly? What about if you use rechargable NiMH batteries and put a litte load on the NXT so power drops below 7v?
And by the way any recomendation on the make of camera?

[Philo]

Is direct battery power enough do drive any of the wireless cameras directly? What about if you use rechargable NiMH batteries and put a litte load on the NXT so power drops below 7v?

I can't tell for other wireless cameras, but mine is rated 8V and consumes only about 50mA. So no problem with direct battery connexion!

About voltage, I successfully used it with my first port A prototype (with high drop 1N4001 diodes) and NiMH batteries. So voltage should not be a problem either.

And by the way any recomendation on the make of camera?

I got a cheap no brand one from an Ebay shop... works very well for the price I paid it (about 30 euro).

[mike1]

I can't tell for other wireless cameras, but mine is rated 8V and consumes only about 50mA. So no problem with direct battery connexion!

About voltage, I successfully used it with my first port A prototype (with high drop 1N4001 diodes) and NiMH batteries. So voltage should not be a problem either.

I got a cheap no brand one from an Ebay shop... works very well for the price I paid it (about 30 euro).

Last time i checked on ebay it used a 9v battery how come yours sasy 8 v and it pricy cause of shipping

[mike1]

The power not beeing switched off is quite anoying with the motor mux as the state of a motor remains the same until the same port get a different command. Will probably add a small power reset button to the mux or a power switch on the supplying power cord.

Is direct battery power enough do drive any of the wireless cameras directly? What about if you use rechargable NiMH batteries and put a litte load on the NXT so power drops below 7v?
And by the way any recomendation on the make of camera?

Maybe switch the charges and make the motor port to switch the charges if you want them on and when them charges are switched back the motors would remain idle.