Why the rules exist
The FRC Game Manual, Section 8 (Robot Construction Rules) defines what a legal robot looks like electrically. Inspectors check these at every event, and a non-compliant robot cannot compete. The rules exist for safety (180A+ batteries are dangerous) and fairness (everyone uses the same power budget). The R-numbers below reflect the 2025-2026 manuals; verify the current year's numbering and text each season - electrical rules change.
The key electrical rules
R601 - Exactly one non-spillable SLA battery, 12V nominal, 17-18.2 Ah, nut-and-bolt terminals, vents unobstructed (2026).
R604 - Charge at 6A average or less; chargers over 6A are banned in pits.
R606 / R607 - Battery must be secured; all battery/breaker terminals and connections fully insulated.
R609 - Main power path (battery, Anderson SB connectors, 120A breaker, PD) wired with 6 AWG copper or larger; names the legal 120A breakers (Cooper Bussmann CB185-120/CB185F-120/CB285-120/CB285F-120/CB285120F or Optifuse 153120/253120) and legal PDs (CTRE PDP, CTRE PDP 2.0, REV PDH, AndyMark AMPD).
R610 - One breaker/fuse per circuit (except the roboRIO/radio circuits in R615/R617).
R611 - The robot frame must not carry current - electrical isolation required between the electrical system and the frame.
R612 - The 120A main breaker must be quickly/safely accessible from the exterior; it is the only 120A breaker allowed.
R614 - Custom circuits limited to 24V (with a COTS PoE exception).
R615 - roboRIO power must connect directly to a non-switched, protected PD output terminal pair with a 10A fuse or breaker, with no other load sharing that circuit (the rule is written generically for any legal PD and no longer names specific terminal numbers).
R616 / R617 - Radio power: for 2026, VH-109 radios must be powered directly from a PD via passive PoE on the RIO port and/or the 12V input - VRM and RPM are no longer legal for powering the VH-109 (they remain legal only for OM5P radios at China events).
R618 - One wire per PD terminal - splice multiple wires into a single lead.
R619 - Only approved breakers (Snap-Action VB3/AT2/MX5, REV ATO, CTR ATO, ATM), all 40A or less.
R620 - Only approved fuses (ATM/ATC/ATO blade fuses) at the specified values.
R621 - Each branch protected per Table 8-3: motor controllers/custom circuits up to 40A; relays/PCM/PH/servo up to 20A.
R622 - Wire gauge by current (Table 8-4): 12 AWG (31-40A), 14 AWG (21-30A), 18 AWG (6-20A / 11-20A fuse), 22 AWG (motor power adapter boards, ≤5A breaker, ≤10A fuse), 28 AWG (signal-level circuits incl. CAN).
R624 - Color coding: positive = red/yellow/white/brown/black-with-stripe; negative = black/blue.
R626 - VH-109 PoE passthrough rules; the radio 12V input must be wired with 18 AWG or larger.
R709 - Robot Signal Light (RSL) required: one or two diagnostic RSLs (P/N 855PB-B12ME522 and/or am-3583), connected to the roboRIO 'RSL' terminals; if using the 855PB, jumper it for solid-light operation.
Passing inspection
Build to these rules from day one rather than fixing violations at the event. Common inspection failures: missing/incorrect RSL wiring, undersized wire, multiple wires in one terminal, an inaccessible main breaker, an outdated radio power path, and uninsulated battery terminals.
Sources
Key takeaways
- Section 8 (R601-R626, R709) defines the legal electrical robot, checked at every inspection.
- Core rules: one SLA battery (R601), 6 AWG main path (R609), 10A roboRIO/radio circuits (R615/R617), one wire per terminal (R618).
- For 2026, R616 removed the VRM and RPM as legal radio power; R609/R619 added AndyMark PD and CTR breakers.
- The RSL is required and wired to the roboRIO 'RSL' terminals (R709, P/N 855PB-B12ME522 / am-3583); R-numbers change yearly - re-check.
Keep going
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Sources & corrections
This lesson is AI-assisted: drafted from primary sources, then reviewed and edited by hand. Errors still get through. When one is reported we fix it and write down what changed — publicly, in the corrections log.
Sources and further reading
- 2025 Game Manual Section 8firstfrc.blob.core.windows.net
- 2026 FRC Team Update 00firstfrc.blob.core.windows.net
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Lesson quiz
RequiredAll 3 right completes the lesson. Miss one and only that question comes back — anything you already answered correctly stays banked.
0 of 3 answered
01.Per FRC rule R609, the battery, the Anderson SB connector, and the main 120A breaker must be connected with what minimum wire size?
02.What is the maximum rating of a circuit breaker allowed in a branch (channel) of the PD under FRC rule R619?
03.What does FRC rule R601 require about the robot's battery?
Answer every question to submit.
All 35 lessons in Electrical & Wiring
- Not started:Mini-Project 1: A Single-Motor Test Stand from Battery to Spin
- Not started:Mini-Project 2: Current-Limited Drivetrain (CTRE and REV)
- Not started:Mini-Project 3: A Live Power-Monitoring Dashboard
- Not started:Mini-Project 4: A Switchable Channel for Lights and Vision
- Not started:Mini-Project 5: CAN Device Bring-Up with Tuner X and the Hardware Client