Configuring 3-Wire Devices in VEXcode Pro V5

When starting to program with VEXcode Pro V5, Sensor and 3-Wire device commands will not appear in the Command Reference until they have been configured.


Adding a 3-Wire Device

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5 category, showcasing various components and their arrangement, including motors, sensors, and structural elements.

To configure a device, select the Robot Configuration button to open the Robot Configuration window. A project must be open in order to use the Robot Configuration window.

Diagram illustrating the configuration of a V5 robot, showcasing various components and their arrangement for optimal performance in robotics applications.

Select “Add a device.

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5, showing various components and their connections, relevant to the V5 Category Description section.

Select the 3-wire Devices.

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5 robotics, showcasing various components and their connections, relevant to the V5 Category Description section.

Select the 3-wire Device that you are using. This example shows a Limit Switch.

Note: 3-wire Devices include the Limit Switch, Bumper Switch, Encoder, Range Finder, Line Tracker, Light, Potentiometer, LED, Gyro,  Motor-393, Servo, Accelerometer-2G, and Accelerometer-6G. All devices follow the same configuration process with an additional step for Motor-393. See the bottom of this article for more details. 

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5 category, showcasing various components and their arrangement within the system.

Select which port the device is attached to on the VEX V5 Brain. Ports that are already configured for other devices will be unavailable. Once the port has been selected, select “Done” to submit the device to the configuration or “Cancel” to return back to the Robot Configuration window.

Note: Selecting “Cancel” will undo any changes you have made to the device and will not be a part of the configuration.


Changing a 3-Wire Device’s Port

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5, showcasing various components and their arrangement, relevant to the V5 Category Description.

You can change the port number for the 3-Wire Device by selecting the 3-Wire Device in the Robot Configuration window.

Diagram illustrating the configuration of a V5 robot, showcasing various components and their arrangement for optimal performance in robotics applications.

Select a different port on the Port Selection screen and the port number will turn blue. Then select "Done" to submit the change.


Renaming a 3-Wire Device

Diagram illustrating the configuration options for V5 robots, including various components and their arrangement, relevant to the V5 Category Description under the Robot Config section.

You can also rename the 3-Wire Device by changing the name in the text box at the top of the Port Selection window. If you select an invalid name, the text box will highlight orange to indicate. Then select "Done" to submit the device changes to the configuration.

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5, showing various components and their connections, with labeled parts for clarity in understanding the setup.

If you change the name of 3-Wire Device that is already being used in your project, you will need to update the device's name in the command to the new name.


Deleting a 3-Wire Device

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5 category, showing key components and their arrangement for optimal performance.

3-Wire Devices can also be deleted by selecting the “Delete” option at the bottom of the Port Selection window.

Note: If you delete a 3-Wire Device that is already being used in your project, your project will generate an error if you try to download it until you also delete the commands that were using the deleted device.


Configuring a VEX Motor-393

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration for V5, showing various components and their connections, including motors, sensors, and structural elements, to aid in understanding the setup for optimal performance.

Select the VEX Motor-393 from the list of devices.

Diagram illustrating the configuration options for V5 robots, including labeled components and connections, as part of the V5 Category Description in the Robot Config section.

Select a port for the Motor-393.

Diagram illustrating the configuration of a V5 robot, showcasing various components and their arrangement for optimal performance in robotics applications.

After selecting the port, this Motor Settings window will let you configure Motor-393 further by:

  • Changing the name
  • Changing the port
  • Changing the direction

For more information on these additional configurations, see the options below.

Screenshot of the Robot Config section in V5 Category Description, displaying configuration options and settings for robotic systems.

Changing the name of Motor-393.

Diagram illustrating the configuration of a V5 robot, showcasing key components and their arrangement for optimal performance in robotics applications.

Changing the port of Motor-393.

Diagram illustrating the configuration of a V5 robot, showcasing various components and their arrangement within the system, relevant to the V5 Category Description and Robot Config section.

Changing the direction of Motor-393.

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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