The FRC battery#
FRC robots run on a single 12V, non-spillable Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery. When fully charged it can briefly supply over 180A - which is why insulation and a main breaker are mandatory. Rule R601 requires exactly one non-spillable SLA battery with nominal 12V, a 20-hour-rate capacity of 17-18.2 Ah, rectangular shape, nut-and-bolt terminals, and (new for 2026) unobstructed vents.
The manual lists specific legal examples, including the MK Battery ES17-12, Enersys NP18-12 / NP18-12B / NP18-12BFR, Power Sonic PS-12180NB, and Yuasa NP18-12B - always confirm against the current Game Manual's list.
The Anderson SB connector#
The battery connects to the robot through an Anderson Power Products (APP) SB-type connector - the standard is the SB50. Kit-of-Parts batteries ship with a red or pink SB50 so teams and field equipment interoperate (the pink KOP connectors mate with red SB50s). Rule R603 requires battery chargers to use the matching Anderson SB connector so charging is safe and consistent.
Battery lead wiring rules (R609, R607):
- 6 AWG copper wire or larger for the leads.
- All terminals and connections - on the battery, the main breaker, and their lugs/stripped ends - fully insulated at all times (R607).
- Proper color coding for the leads (red/yellow/white/brown/black-with-stripe for positive; black or blue for negative) per R624.
Charging and care#
- R604 caps average charge current at 6A; chargers rated over 6A are banned from FRC pits.
- A good battery has internal resistance under ~0.015 ohms (manufacturer spec ~0.011). If a battery climbs above ~0.020 ohms, retire it from competition matches.
- SLA cells are rated for ~1200 cycles, but FRC's high currents cut usable competition life to roughly 400 cycles.
- Use a battery tester (e.g. a Battery Beak) to measure resting voltage and internal resistance before matches. A battery reading ~12.5V at idle should be charged before use.
Securing the battery#
Rule R606 requires the battery to be secured so it cannot dislodge during vigorous robot interaction (including if the robot tips), and R605 forbids using extra batteries as ballast. Use a strap or bracket plus hook-and-loop, and route the leads so they cannot snag.
Sources#
the part worth keeping
Key takeaways
- FRC uses one 12V non-spillable SLA battery (R601), 17-18.2 Ah, nut-and-bolt terminals, vents unobstructed (2026); it can briefly supply 180A+.
- The battery connects via an Anderson SB50 (red/pink KOP) connector with 6 AWG leads, fully insulated (R607/R609).
- Charge at 6A average or less (R604); retire batteries whose internal resistance exceeds ~0.020 ohms.
- The battery must be securely mounted (R606) and cannot be used as ballast (R605).
Electrical & WiringPower: Battery, Breakers, and the Main Circuitlesson 1 of 5
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Sources and 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, in public, in the corrections log.
sources and further reading
- docs.wpilib.orgWPILib Robot Battery Basics
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Articles that go further on this
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- 8 min readFRC Battery Guide: Charging, Care, Testing, and SafetyFRC battery guide: how to charge, care for, test with a Battery Beak, wire the SB50 connector, and safely handle your 12V FRC battery fleet./blogread it
- 7 min readHow to Read the FRC Game Manual (Without Getting Lost)The FRC game manual is the season's official rulebook. Here's how to read the FRC manual without getting lost: structure, rule prefixes, scoring, and Team Updates./blogread it
answer sheet
Lesson quiz
All 3 right completes the lesson. Miss one and only that question comes back, anything you already answered correctly stays banked.
0 of 3 answered
01What chemistry and nominal voltage does the standard FRC robot battery use?
02Which connector attaches the battery to the robot so KOP batteries stay interoperable between teams?
03What is the minimum copper wire gauge required for the battery leads (R609)?
Answer every question to submit.
All 35 lessons in Electrical & Wiringopenclose
01 / prerequisites
02 / control-system-components
03 / power-battery-breakers
04 / motor-controllers-can-bus
05 / connections-rules-troubleshooting
06 / worked-examples-mini-projects
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07 / common-mistakes-troubleshooting
08 / advanced-techniques-case-studies