$50 robot Questions

[Jaryd107]

I have two questions about my $50 robot.

1.I am sodering my board and the soder from one pin touches the soder from another pin. Is this a problem, what should I do.

2.Can i use a 9volt battery or is that too much voltage. I think it would be easier because i have a battery connector thing for the 9v.

Thankyou

[Webbot]

I have two questions about my $50 robot.

1.I am sodering my board and the soder from one pin touches the soder from another pin. Is this a problem, what should I do.

2.Can i use a 9volt battery or is that too much voltage. I think it would be easier because i have a battery connector thing for the 9v.

Thankyou

1. Major problem! Try to clean your solder tip and then run it between the two pins to create a gap. Otherwise google for solder wick
2. 9v will be ok so long as it goes via the voltage regulator before hitting the chip

[Jaryd107]

Kk... im gonna try to fix the solder problem. Oh... and yeah, its going through a regulator.

[SmAsH]

to the second question, if you are only using one pack for servos and mcu then you cannot use a 9V
as this will fry the servos...
if you are using the two pack method it will be fine.

[Razor Concepts]

Smash... please read everything twice before posting. He just said it's going through a regulator 


You could use the 9v pack, however the servos draw a lot of current so you will be eating through 9v batteries like crazy.

[Jaryd107]

Ok... would you recomend just using 4 AA(1.5v) batteries instead?

[SmAsH]

Smash... please read everything twice before posting. He just said it's going through a regulator 

i did! i thought he only meant he was using the regulator for the mcu as using it for the servos seems very illogical!

Ok... would you recomend just using 4 AA(1.5v) batteries instead?

yes, that would work, but are you sure you don't want to consider a rechargeable pack?
if you are serious about going into robotics you should get or make one! because buying all those batteries is a B#$CH.
you can run the board off one pack, but it may have the be a 7V2 pack... as some regulators need more than one volt above the regulated voltage to run.. so, in some cases it is better to use two packs... your choice...

[Webbot]

IMHO You're best with 2 packs.

1 pack for the servos (ie unregulated) which could be say 4xAA rechargeables @ 1.2V each. So say 4.8v. If you go much beyond 5v then check the datasheet for your servo so you dont blow it.

1 pack to go via the regulator to feed the controller circuit. I tend to use a rechargeabl 9v battery. They cant supply much current but your processor doesn't need much.