Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: PedroDiogo on January 18, 2009, 04:03:46 PM

Title: [Help] Powering Servos
Post by: PedroDiogo on January 18, 2009, 04:03:46 PM

Hi there,

I'm building a robot and I'm using an Arduino to control 2 servo motors, modified for continuous motion, and other sensors.
My question is:

How do I power those 2 servos? Powering them with 5V from the Arduino connected to USB works fine, however if I try to power them with 4 AA alkaline batteries (powering only those 2 servos), they seem intermittent and unresponsive, and most of the time only one servo can work at the time. The connections are the same as they are for the Arduino I just replace the 5v and Ground from the Arduino, for those in the batteries.

Can anyone help me?

P.S.: Great forum and site :)

Thanks,
Pedro Diogo

 

Title: Re: [Help] Powering Servos
Post by: Razor Concepts on January 18, 2009, 04:05:07 PM

Is the ground from the battery connected to the ground of the arduino?

Title: Re: [Help] Powering Servos
Post by: PedroDiogo on January 18, 2009, 04:09:56 PM

Quote from: Razor Concepts on January 18, 2009, 04:05:07 PM

Is the ground from the battery connected to the ground of the arduino?

No it is connected to the ground on the batteries.

Title: Re: [Help] Powering Servos
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on January 18, 2009, 06:40:29 PM

You need to connect the Ground of the Arduino to the Ground of the servo. If you have 2 battery packs they have to share a common ground.