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Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

topic posted Mon, May 16, 2005 - 10:42 PM by  Steven 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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In electricity there a couple of basic types. 60 Hz AC voltage which is commonly available from a basic service such as a wall socket in your home or in the Power Tool Drag Race launch system.

Then theres DC voltage this is commonly found in things like the storage battery in your automobile.

AC voltage in the USA is actully turning itself off and reversing it's polarity about 60 times a second.

DC voltage remains steady and provides a constant current flow.

So for the most part DC voltage is a better power source than AC voltage because of it's constant current flow.

Now at the last event one of the racers used their own magic box to increse their voltage available to their racer (at least that was the rumor anyways).

Now of course it is very easy to convert the AC voltage to DC voltage using a simple device called a Full Wave Bridge Rectifier. Basically this device contains four diodes and it SUMs the pulsing 120 VAC into about 180 Volts Pulsing DC the DC comes out of this device pulsing at 120 Hz.

If you add some capsitors to this voltage output from the device you get a nice steady (Approx) 180 VDC to power your racer.

Obviously this would give you an advantage when using certain types of motors that can run on AC or DC.

Is this fair to use this simple technology against other racers that are just using the normal AC power coming from the launch system?
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Steven
offline Steven
Sacramento
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  • jim
    jim
    offline 91

    Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

    Mon, May 16, 2005 - 10:59 PM

    thanks for spilling the beans steven . . .

    but yes, H bridge rectifiers are legal. however, there will be a new class this year for all voltage mods, including this, as everyone is going to do it. the line this year will also have well set up 240vac in addition to the 120vac. 3 phase and DC you are on your own.


    the rules for the next event will get rid of trying to distinguish between the stock and modified class based on the existence or lack thereof of a frame. that proved nearly impossible to interpret. i believe the new reckoning will simply be single motor, multi motor, and votage mod open. the first two will be non mod motors or power. any frame or drive in any class.

    not fully sure what to do with the belt sanders, as they can't compete against other tool types in an open class very well. but we don't want to start reckoning the rules in relation to specific tools types.

    so the best i have so far is a simple:

    1. super stock- one motor: any drive, any frame, stock voltage and no motor mods

    2. modifieds - multi motor: any drive, any frame, stock voltage and no motor mods.

    3. awful altereds: any motor(s), any motor mods and voltage mods, any frame, any drive.

    4. sex toys: as usual

    5. funny cars (ride on): anything

    6. top fuel (unusual designs): really anything

    this makes the classes all easy to interpret and keeps the full rule sheet to under a page. but again, we want to maintain the ability for anyone to participate, and in the past we have felt that a real "stock" stock class was needed to do this. but in reality, nearly everyone does some significant building at this point. so i don't think the box stock class is needed to make it easy for the "kimmie's" of the world.

    but i do fear the new stock class will eliminate most belt sanders, even with gearing mods. but then again, a more radical gearing mod than the jen/gwen/carrie machine, and a drive that is other than the paper, could make them reasonable. the belt sander entries are usually very stable and never crash. making it to the end of the track every time will do in over 70% of the competition from the git go.

    anyways, input on these rules would be appreciated. i'm still scheming on it. alexander told me i have the rule structure wrong if it takes more than one page to explain . . .

    j
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    • eduardo
      eduardo
      offline 169

      Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

      Tue, May 17, 2005 - 2:35 AM
      I see where you're coming from re: making categories simpler. Bone-stock was a smaller category stuck there but still, I kind of liked it.

      Sure, it's not as serious, the machines are not that fast, they were put together with less workshop time.

      Still, it has it's place. It's fun, it may be a bit long but, if nothing else, it keep everyone else from taking it -toooo- seriously ;)

      Besides, some fun designs would just not be competitive (belt sanders, vacum cleaners...) elsewhere, and may thus just disappear.

      My $0.02
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      • CTP
        CTP
        offline 443

        Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

        Tue, May 17, 2005 - 9:29 AM
        Not sure if it would even be doable, but what about running qualifying rounds and using brackets? I'm not going to try to explain bracket racing to everyone, but here's an intro if you need it. Or just google bracket racing.

        That way belt sanders could run against belt sanders, etc.

        Personally I like the new classes, as I'd be the current modified champion if Greg hadn't been running his power box. But that's just my $0.02 :-D
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    • skid
      skid
      offline 121

      Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

      Wed, May 18, 2005 - 10:27 AM
      As someone with a fast saw that got beat by the rectifier I am thrilled with the new rules. I've got some work to do tho cause my 2.9 second time may not have been quick enough to win even if I was back in the superstock bracket.

      It's not ALL about winning but who the hell wants to lose to what I saw as a violation of the "spirit" of the rules with the rectifier.

      Someone actually compared the use of an H bridge rectifier to my use of a stick of aluminum box tubing...LOL

      I think he was tired of the complaints by that time...hee

      And actually that experience just motivated me to improve my design.

      Fun stuff

      skid
      "dirty sanchez racer"
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      • CTP
        CTP
        offline 443

        Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

        Wed, May 18, 2005 - 12:30 PM
        You know at the viewing party we all cheered every time the announcer mentioned Dirty Sanchez

        "he made them say Dirty Sanchez on national TV!!!!"

        loved it!

        As far as the "spirit of the rules" goes, I can tell you from a lifetime of experience that racing rules most often get changed when someone figures out and makes use of a loophole. To a great many, if the rules don't say you can't then you do, damn the "spirit", cause it's all about winning.

        Then again, some of us like to be liked by our fellow man. ;-)
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        • jim
          jim
          offline 91

          Re: Thoughts on modifing the line voltage.

          Thu, May 19, 2005 - 2:54 AM

          yes, this is how rules progress. in the next iteration we are both simplifying as well as responding to loopholes that make the racing unfair and unfun for those who do certain things. the voltage hacks are clearly that.

          the other loophole that will be closed is in the unusual designs class. and that loophole is that the entire mass of the "vehicle" must be behind the line at the start and travel down the track to the finish. i.e. part of the vehicle can't be at the finish line at the start. i.e. no slingshots stretched the lenght of the track. no guns shooting a bullet down the track. a sling shot can be stretched behind the line, and the whole thing travel down the track. that is fine. but the way bob did it last year will be not ok. a gun could also fire backwards into a barrel of pig fat and kick back down the track on skateboard wheels. perfectly fine.

          the "entire mass must travel down the track" rule was actually in the rules for the unusual designs last year, but we let bob slide as it was important that i lose so to have good tv, and bob's design was very smart and fun. if the vehicle is smart and fun enough, rules will be bent. so bob slid. at 184MPH through the timing lights, mind you. but it is not really the case that he "raced" the track in a proper spiritual sense we must admit. but admitedly, i am biased in this assessment. . . ;-)

          nonetheless, we can still debate whether the track record stands at 88MPH and .84 seconds, or 184MPH and .6 seconds.

          j

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