Mindstorms/Power Functions Compatibility Question

[nebraska]

I hope somebody could help me out on this question before I go out and spend a bunch of money...

Can I hook power functions motors up to the Mindstorms NXT block?

If so, can I then use the push button sensor to control them (IE: push once to turn on/push again to shut off)? If they are compatible do the power functions motors program the same as the mindstorm motors?

Thanks for any help.

[AVCampos]

You can control PF motors from the NXT, but you won't have the servo feedback NXT motors have.

To connect each motor, you have either the choice of getting a PF extension cable (to convert from PF to 9V) and an NXT convert cable (to convert from 9V to NXT), or take a PF wire and an NXT one, cut them, then splice together one connector of each type.

Or you can get a HiTechnic IR Link for the NXT, and then control the PF motor with a separate battery box and PF IR receiver.

Edited June 25, 2012 by AVCampos

[nebraska]

You can control PF motors from the NXT, but you won't have the servo feedback NXT motors have.

To connect each motor, you have either the choice of getting a PF extension cable (to convert from PF to 9V) and an NXT convert cable (to convert from 9V to NXT), or take a PF wire and an NXT one, cut them, then splice together one connector of each type.

Or you can get a HiTechnic IR Link for the NXT, and then control the PF motor with a separate battery box and PF IR receiver.

Super answer! Thank you very much.

[Aqualize]

The PFmate from mindsensors can be bought for a smaller price than HiTechnic IR Link. The but the later one is semi-official (sanctioned by lego company).

I bought a PFmate quite a while ago but hasn't gotten around to use it.

Using some type of IR link and PF-receivers is good if you need a lot of motors as they connect to another power source (PF battery box). Remember that you can have several PF-receivers one the same channel and they will all (if reachable from the IR link) do the same thing. So you can connect those 4, 6 or 8 XL motors to the "same" function. Of course you need to use a multiple PF battery boxes for this setup and it will cost big money.

http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=107

[jacobkristensen]

Honestly I simply can't understand that TLG don't produce a nxt to pf cable.

But I feels sure that it because in the long run, nxt will be phased out and replaced with mindstorms power functions kit instead.

[AVCampos]

in the long run, nxt will be phased out and replaced with mindstorms power functions kit instead.

I don't doubt that there will be a new Mindstorms brick in the future, but I don't think its protocol, whatever it will be, will be Power Functions. The current NXT protocol uses 6 wires instead of the 4 in PF, and they are all needed.