Arm camera power

[Mike]

Does anyone know the source & routing of power to the on-arm cameras -
I've have a couple of instances of what appears to be loss of power to flying and fid cams, but has been mid-job and managed to recover by some wiggling etc.
Need to properly sort it out.
I notice the relays click when you select cameras in factory test - I thought this was for video routing but appears not. Can't see why they'd use relays for power switching though.

[phonoplug]

If I remember correctly, the fid camera gets its power through the arm board and a 9V regulator on it. I can't talk about the flying camera as I don't have an RV4, but it could well be paralleled from the same place.

The two relays control a) vacuum pump and b) fixed component camera LED ring (only on RV4's - on RV1's its always on regardless of this relay). Camera signals do not go through these relays.

[Mike]

I've now done some major tidying up.
I think the initial problem was the IDC connectors - I've had problems with these on a feeder in the past.
The ones for the cam supply and sensors were sitting at odd angles, and the pins showing signs of oxidisation, so I replaced them with JST connectors (crimped with proper expensive JST tool!)

The camera wiring was a real mess - I don't know how original it was - the 2 video outs went to a couple of Phono sockets on the rear of the lower arm, with cables cable-tied round the main column. Could be that these replaced failed coax wires through the arm that someone couldn't be bothered to re-thread.
The power wiring also had multiple heatshrunk joins.

The onboard TO-92 9V regulator had been replaced with a  TO220 clamped to the arm body - I guess this may be due to the extra load powering 2 cameras, again no idea if this is "original".

[phonoplug]

From what you've descrived and shown, and my (not massive) experience of different machines, I believe what you've got was all original. Only possible exception is the multiple heatshrunk joints, but saying that I've seen that on most the machines I've seen too.

[Mike]

Interestingly in the armtest.exe utility, the relay used for teh fixed cam is labelled 'Solenoid", presumably from the earlier mechanical robot incarnation

[spiyda]

I initially wondered why the LED ring on the static camera needed to be switched on and off in the first place.
The LEDs were not going to wear out faster than the others on the RV..
Then I realised that the light would probably interfere with the "on the fly" imaging on the arm camera


Re oxidized contacts..  a good mil. spec. dielectric grease is your friend here.
I now routinely smear a very thin layer on all pretty much all mechanical contacts.
For plug/socket contacts, it prevents oxidization pretty much in our lifetime.
but I'm probably preaching to the converted..