Frequently Asked Questions; Why Are Torx / Star Drive Screws Used On The Falcon 500? - Vex Robotics Falcon 500 User Manual

217-6515-751
Falcon 500 Motor User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why Are Torx / Star Drive Screws Used on the Falcon 500?
A: Traditional hex keys, as well as the screws they're used on, are susceptible to stripping. This is
especially true the smaller the hex key gets as well as with button head screws. Torx / Star Drive
screws are much harder to strip and therefore, teams won't have to be as concerned about stripping
screws if they need to open up the motor chamber.
Q: Is it safe to mount the Falcon 500 directly to a robot's metal frame?
A: Yes. In fact, mounting the Falcon 500 to metal on your robot will act as a heatsink and help keep it
running cooler.
Q: Is it safe to mount the Falcon 500 directly to plastic?
A: Yes. While it's not ideal for cooling, the Falcon 500 will work when it's mounted to plastic.
Q: Does the Falcon 500 Require A Fan?
A: The Falcon 500 does not require a fan for typical FRC use. However, if the robot is being used for
practice or many back to back matches, it is a good idea to use the Falcon 500's cooling port to cool
the motor.
Q: What kind of electrical connectors should I use to connect wires to the Falcon 500 / Talon FX?
A: The choice of electrical connectors is left to the user. Electrical connectors used with the Talon FX
should be designed for use with 12AWG wire and tightly crimped. For the best electrical connection,
it is highly recommended that wire connectors are soldered to the wire they are crimped on.
Q: Can the Falcon 500 be used with control system other than the NI roboRIO?
A: Yes, the Falcon 500, powered by Talon FX may be used with any control system that is capable of
PWM output or CAN bus.
Q: Does the Falcon 500 work with either CAN or PWM?
A: Yes. The Falcon 500 can be controlled through either CAN or PWM. However, CAN is required to
take advantage of the Talon FX's smart features like Motion Magic.
Q: There isn't a wire connected to the center (red) PWM wire on the .1" servo connector, is this a
problem?
A: No. The center (red) PWM wire is typically +5V that can be used to power PWM devices. The
Talon FX is powered by the 12V input and does not require PWM power.
vexpro.com ctr-electronics.com
Copyright 2019, VEX Robotics Inc.
2020-01-07
46