I've worked with Arduinos for a short while, but only on via battery packs for power supply! I'm currently making a project that requires 4 servos, which will need to be running off and on for 2 weeks, so I want to try and make it plug into a UK mains wall socket if possible!
The servos I have recommend 4-6.2v and I imagine require 1A each. I wanted to run them off 1 Arduino nano and breadboard, so that it can be easily hidden, as it will be in a public area.
Please could anyone help with power recommendations, regarding which supply to buy and if I need any resistors to split power? I'm aware that I will probably need to use them, but am a little lost as I'm new to powering multiple components from a single board, as everything else I have worked on has had its own Arduino/ breadboard/ etc!
Any help would be really greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your time in reading this far!
Check the specifications for servos regarding current consumption during light or heavy load.
Look for a 5 volt supply capable of supplying 4 times the max Power of one servo.
Would I just need to attach the supply to the normal power rails on the breadboard, with the servos attached directly along, or would I need resistors to split it evenly between them?
Sorry about all the questions, I'm still trying to get my head around how it works!
Keep motor power supply as close to the motors as possible. I suggest directly from pwr supp to the motors. The current in those cables is possibly noicy and should be kept as faar as possible from the controller.
If the breadboard is a motor controller, then connect to its motor pwr input.
Resistors? For what? They will only create heat.
Solderless breadboards can not carry more than about 500 mA. Most likely each of your motors is drawing more than that.
Wire power directly to the motors, with appropriate thickness wires (not flimsy thin signal wire). Remember to connect grounds if using separate power for the Arduino.
It's not a good idea to just guess the current that servos need. An SG90 needs only 650mA. Larger servos may need up to 3A each. So what servos are you actually using?
A 5V power supply with sufficient current will power both the servos and the Nano but the servo power must be directly wired NOT through a breadboard. The signal connections can go via breadboard but not the +5 and GND connections.
