I'm a new electrical engineering student; I apologize for my confusion. I am planning on controlling a micro linear servo(Actuonix PQ-12) with an Arduino Uno. My plan is to power this with a 12V battery. I have attached a simple Tinkercad diagram. In case you're unfamiliar with this software: on the left is the supply and on the right is the servo. Arduino Vin will take 6-12V and the servo datasheet says it to will take 6-12V also.
My questions are:
a) Should the Arduino ground be attached to the negative terminal?
b) I noticed that there are two GRD nodes on the Arduino. Does it matter if the servo is grounded by the other GRD? Will the circuit still be closed?
Yes, connect all Gnds in the system together, they need a common reference point.
Any Gnd on the Arduino is good, they are all connected together.
Can even use the Gnd on the ICSP header (pin 6).
colton4231:
Arduino Vin will take 6-12V and the servo datasheet says it to will take 6-12V also.
No, the website states that there are two different models of the servo, one which operates at 6 V and one which operates at 12 V. You choose which you purchase.
If you power the Arduino via 12 V on "Vin", you need to understand that the on-board regulator has only the capacity to power the board itself and you can not draw more than perhaps 100 mA from the "5V" pin and/ or a combination of output pins in total before the regulator overheats and (hopefully reversibly) shuts down.
So proceed as you will, but do not plan on connecting any other things to the Arduino unless you can separately provide the power to operate them.
Paul__B:
No, the website states that there are two different models of the servo, one which operates at 6 V and one which operates at 12 V. You choose which you purchase.
If you power the Arduino via 12 V on "Vin", you need to understand that the on-board regulator has only the capacity to power the board itself and you can not draw more than perhaps 100 mA from the "5V" pin and/ or a combination of output pins in total before the regulator overheats and (hopefully reversibly) shuts down.
So proceed as you will, but do not plan on connecting any other things to the Arduino unless you can separately provide the power to operate them.
Hey, thanks for the clarification. Here is a quote about I/O pin current, "The absolute maximum for any single IO pin is 40 mA"(source: safety - How much current can I draw from the Arduino's pins? - Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange). Another person on the website comments saying "...operating at the absolute maximum can be damaging. It is generally recommended to limit to <35mA." I do not plan on powering anything from the Arduino. The purpose of the Arduino is only to control the servo. I have ordered the 6V PQ-12 with the 30:1 gear ratio.
This should be no problem correct? Attached is the code I plan on running.
my advice ( electronics tech since 1964 ) is use a Mean Well or Lambda brand external switching power supply. use a buck converter to knock the 12V down to 5V, and power the Arduino via one of the 5 V pins. keep all heat generation off the Arduino. power all modules from the switching power supply. if you are studying to be a pro, do things the pro way from day one.
I use very small breadboards with double row headers for power & ground, and I2C SDA &SCL distribution. when all the posts are filled I use hot glue or RTV to provide strain relief at the solder joint.
