Hey everyone! Doing a summer project where I have an automated machine playing a Game Boy Advanced game for me (Pokemon, to be precise). There will be 6 "Micro Servo 9g SG90" motors used in the project to function as fingers hitting the buttons on the device. They are from amazon and their advertised operating voltage is 4.8-6.0V. Throughout the program, the servos are powered one at a time. However, there is one occurrence in every loop where 4 of the 6 are powered in unison.
I am serial reading and writing between Arduino and MATLAB, so the micro USB is plugged in. In addition, I have a DC12V, 10 A plugged into the board. Furthermore, all the micros are plugged into the board via the digital 3 prongs.
The loop needs to run up to 30 thousand times, or more, and I need consistency. It seems like there are times when servos skip and the loop breaks. What can I change?
The Shakespeare type of presentation is seldom covering a project in the way helpers ask for. Know that all helpers are complete beginners regarding Your project.
Very helpful. Ya, I have been watching more videos where they break down these concepts in depth. My plan is to get this item (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08N4R48LJ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image) to use as my external power supply. It comes with a DC terminal connector, which from my knowledge could be used with my breadboard. Does this seem plausible??
6A will fry your breadboard, but there's no reason to run it through your breadboard. Wire your PS direct to your servos, and be sure to connect the ground of the PS to the ground of the Arduino, because the servos need that.
Breadboards are designed for low power logic circuits, and cannot be used for servo power, as the tracks will burn. Either solder wires to the power connections, or use a servo power distribution PCB.
Okay, good to know. How do I get that one-to-many wore set up? That is why I thought I'd use the bread board. Any hand written diagram or link would be helpful.
I've never seen one with a rating, frankly, but they're for signals, not power; show me one with a 3A rating, I'll call BS. Period. Full stop. Don't do it, unless you've got another one on the shelf for the day your first one melts down. Wrong tool, wrong job. Think in terms of 50 mA, max. It's just good practice.
No, you mean they are only commanded to move one at a time, or maybe four. But they will always be powered and may easily be drawing current to hold their position. So you actually need an absolute minimum of 6 A capability just in case.
Not sure that that is useful for anything. Clearly you need a 6 V supply for the servos to operate efficiently, and 5 V regulated for the secret Arduino.
I think you mean https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N4R48LJ. Quite unsuitable (and ridiculously expensive) for this application, as @bluejets points out. Look for a fixed 6 V supply. You can actually use a couple of power diodes to drop the voltage to about 5 V for the Arduino as well.
To forestall further objections, if wired correctly, a power supply that is actually capable of delivering the necessary current to operate the servos will not "sag" the output voltage and interfere with the Arduino operation.
Perhaps the OP should buy a decent multimeter, instead of that? Clearly, measuring the current presently flowing in the circuit should be their next move. Ends ALL this speculation.
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So at this point, to make sure I understand, you are saying I should look for a fixed 6 V supply with 6 A? For these motors, I thought they only need like 300mA max, being 9g? So shouldn't, for 6, 2A be more than enough?
Look. When a 5V supply is dropping to 4.4V, it's time to measure the current in the circuit. Under some conditions. It may not apply to all conditions, but if you're down to 4.4 at source, you've got a problem. I'm not debating this, you should have measured it long ago. I'm out of here.
Clearly you need a 6 V supply for the servos to operate efficiently, and 5 V regulated for the secret Arduino.
