TI-Innovator™ Technology General Precautions

This section describes suggested general precautions for all TI-Innovator Technology.

If you need more assistance, contact TI-Cares.

TI‑Innovator™ Hub

• Do not expose the Hub to temperatures above 140˚F (60˚C).
• Do not disassemble or mistreat the Hub.
• Do not chain together multiple Hubs through the I/O ports or the Breadboard Connector.
• Use only the USB cables provided with the Hub.
• Use only the TI provided power supplies:
- TI Wall Charger included with the TI‑Innovator™ Hub
- Optional External Battery Pack
- 4AA battery holder included in the TI‑Innovator™ Breadboard Pack
• Ensure that the components receiving power from the Hub do not exceed the Hub's 1-amp power limit.
• Avoid using the Hub to control AC electricity.

Breadboard Connector on the Hub

- Do not insert the leads of LEDs and other components directly into the Hub’s Breadboard Connector. Assemble the components on the breadboard and use the provided jumper cables to connect the breadboard to the Hub.
- Do not connect the 5V receptacle pin on the Hub's Breadboard Connector to any of the other pins, especially the ground pins. Doing so could damage the Hub.
- Connecting the top row of receptacle pins (BB1-10) to the bottom row (grounding and power pins) is not recommended.
- No pin on the Hub's Breadboard Connector can sink or source greater than 4 mA.

TI‑Innovator™ Rover

• Do not expose the Rover to temperatures above 140˚F (60˚C).
• Do not disassemble or mistreat the Rover.
• Do not put anything heavier than 1 Kg or 2.2 lbs on the Rover platform.
• Use only the USB cables provided with the TI-Innovator™ Hub.
• Use only the Ribbon cables provided with the Rover.
• Use only the TI provided wall charger included with the Hub.
• The front-mounted Ultrasonic Ranger will detect objects within 4 meters of the Rover. For best results make sure the object's surface is bigger than a folder. If used to detect small objects, such as a cup, place the Rover within 1 meter of the object.
• For best results, leave the Slide Case off of your graphing calculator.
• For best performance, use Rover on the floor, not on tables. Damage may occur from Rover falling off a table.
• For best performance, use Rover on a hard surface. Carpet may cause the Rover wheels to catch or drag.
• Do not turn the Holder pegs on the Calculator Platform without lifting them first. They could break.
• Do not use the marker as a lever to pull or push the Rover.
• Do not unscrew the case enclosure on the bottom of the Rover. Encoders have sharp edges that should not be exposed.
• Do not move Rover after executing a program. The internal gyroscope may unintentionally try to get the Rover back on track using the initial location.
• When inserting the Breadboard Ribbon Cable into the Hub Breadboard Connector, it is critical that you insert the cable correctly. Make sure the red (dark) wire pin is inserted into the 5v hole on the Hub's Breadboard Connector.

Caution: If you dislodge or disconnect any of the cables, use this image as a reference for correct hookups.

I/O Modules Precautions

• Use the correct Input or Output port as required for each module.
- Vibration Motor – supported on OUT 1, OUT 2, and OUT 3.
- Servo Motor – use OUT 3 only.
- White LED – supported on OUT 1, OUT 2, and OUT 3.
- Analog Light Sensor – supported on IN 1, In 2, and IN 3.
- Ultrasonic Ranger – supported on IN 1, IN 2.
• Use an Auxiliary Power Source for modules that require more than 50 mA, including:
- Vibration Motor
- Servo Motor
• Do not hold the Servo Motor’s shaft while it is rotating. Also, do not rotate the Servo Motor by hand.
• White LED:
- Do not bend the leads repeatedly; this will weaken the wires and may cause them to break.
- The LED requires the correct polarity when inserted into its socket. For details, refer to the instructions for assembling the LED in the TI‑Innovator™ Technology eGuide (here).
- The LED requires the correct polarity when inserted into its socket. For details, refer to the instructions for assembling the LED (here).
• No I/O module can sink or source greater than 4 mA.

Breadboard Precautions

• Do not connect the positive and negative leads of a power source to the same group of 5 pins on the breadboard. Doing so could damage the breadboard and the power source.
• Observe the correct polarity:
- When connecting the breadboard to the Hub.
- When connecting components that are sensitive to polarity, such as LEDS and the TTL Power MOSFET.

TI-SensorLink Adapter and Vernier Sensor Precautions

TI-SensorLink

• TI-SensorLink is not a data collection solution. USB connected probes or Lab Cradle remains a superior solution for pure data collection and analysis.
• The Hub commands for the TI-SensorLink with the Vernier analog sensors are currently not part of the Hub App (CE family) or the Hub menu (TI-Nspire™ CX).
• The new commands and keywords will either need to be typed in OR copied from an existing program. Please note that any typographical errors in the keywords will result in an error indication in the sketch.

Vernier Sensors

• Gas Pressure Sensor - The Gas Pressure Sensor sensing element will be damaged with direct contact to liquid.
• pH Sensor - Place the electrode in pH 4 or pH 7 buffer solution. It should never be stored in distilled water. If the electrode is inadvertently stored dry for a short period of time, immerse the tip in the pH 4 buffer/KCl storage solution for a minimum of 8 hours prior to use.
• Stainless Steel Temperature Probe -
- Twisting the cable. Sometimes students twist or crimp the wire near the handle of the sensor. Over time, this can cause the wires to come loose and make the sensor stop working.
- Overheating the sensor. When used in chemistry labs, students will sometimes lay the sensor on a hot plate and effectively "cook" the unit.
- The unit is not waterproof! Water can seep into the hilt of the sensor and damage the electronics. Only submerge the stainless steel portion the sensor into water when collecting data.