# \[Solved\] Powering useless box **URL:** \ **Category:** Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC\ **Created:** [May 14, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866 "2022-05-14T20:59:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/1 "2022-05-14T20:59:28Z")
Hello everyone, first post for me. As my first Arduino project I build a useless box. The components used are: Arduino Nano Every 2 Servo AZ-Delivery MG996R Digital Servo Led lights reused from this product [Amazon.co.uk](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07HP1ZVDM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) dfplayer mini mp3 8ohm 3W speaker Toggle switch Rocker switch Battery pack of 3AA batteries The battery is connected to the Arduino V5 pin through the rocket switch, in order to power it only when actually needed. Right now servos, led and MP3 board are powered the 5v pin that doesn't provide enough energy. The original project was without light and sound, but you know, bolder is better 🙂 The original setup was fine powering everything with 3AA batteries, probably not actually enough to power Arduino plus two servos at max capacity, but the servos never works at their max capacity. Now I want to power the lights and the MP3 board with a second power supply or replace the main one. The lights drawn 115mA at max, the MP3 board I read should drawn at max 150mA. Sony questions are: Do you suggest one or two power sources? In base of the answer to the above question, do you suggest any product? In case of two power source, can I connect two power source to the same Rocker switch? (I was thinking that connecting the ground from the second power source to the switch should do the work) Thanks in advance. If any photo is needed, I'll be happy to provide it ---
**Author:** ![LarryD](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/larryd/32/215550_2.png) [@LarryD](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/LarryD)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/2 "2022-05-14T21:09:45Z")
4 AA batteries used in this example. > [@Share tips you have come across](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/share-tips-you-have-come-across/428745/808): > > Flush cut, down cut, spiral router bit. ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/3 "2022-05-14T21:18:23Z")
If you want to switch two power sources at once, you can use a DPST switch. ---
**Author:** ![gilshultz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/67e7ee/32.png) [@gilshultz](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/gilshultz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/4 "2022-05-14T21:32:20Z")
Please post a schematic as you have wired it, not a fuzzy frizzy picture. It appears you have some things connected wrong and could possibly fry your Arduino. ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/5 "2022-05-14T22:43:07Z")
> [@gilshultz](#): > > Please post a schematic as you have wired it, not a fuzzy frizzy picture. It appears you have some things connected wrong and could possibly fry your Arduino. I hope it is clear ![useless-box-schematic](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/a/e/6/ae62171ee0dc010e6f6f9a2885c035b7f2f2344a.png) ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/6 "2022-05-14T22:46:59Z")
Thanks, actually I was not clear in my question. I was thinking to keep the switch and I was wondering to understand if I can just connect the ground from the second battery to the switch ground. If it is not possible, I'll use a DPST switch in case I need two power sources ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/7 "2022-05-14T22:48:24Z")
Will you use one or two power supplies (battery packs)? ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/8 "2022-05-14T22:49:37Z")
actually I am looking for suggestion if is better to replace the 3AA battery pack with a bigger or add a second battery pack to power mp3 player and leds ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/9 "2022-05-14T22:50:40Z")
Servos should have a separate supply. ---
**Author:** ![LarryD](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/larryd/32/215550_2.png) [@LarryD](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/LarryD)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/10 "2022-05-14T22:53:04Z")
The link offered shows a DC to DC converter on 4 AA batteries. ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/11 "2022-05-14T22:53:15Z")
> [@anon57585045](#): > > Servos should have a separate supply. Ok, so I could power board, MP3 and leds with the AAx3 pack Servos with AAx4 pack (I read on another topic that this is the correct power for two servos) ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/12 "2022-05-14T22:54:40Z")
You can't just switch **only** the ground lead. Then there is a current path through the two power supplies. ---
**Author:** ![LarryD](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/larryd/32/215550_2.png) [@LarryD](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/LarryD)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/13 "2022-05-14T22:54:48Z")
Servos powered by 6v battery, converter powers other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/14 "2022-05-14T22:55:19Z")
Seems like a "capital" idea! ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/15 "2022-05-14T22:55:58Z")
> [@LarryD](#): > > The link offered shows a DC to DC converter on 4 AA batteries. It is a quite big topic with different aspects of the project, I was from mobile and was not simple to find exactly the battery part. I'll take a better look to it tomorrow. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![LarryD](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/larryd/32/215550_2.png) [@LarryD](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/LarryD)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/16 "2022-05-14T22:57:32Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/9/f/d/9fdc677fd0734de00440258ce8497b613eabf835.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/17 "2022-05-14T23:22:36Z")
If I understand correctly, from the 6V battery pack the + goes straight to the servos, and to the DC to DC converter. The servos ground is connected to the DC converter. Then the arduino, the led board and MP3 player are powered from DC to DC converter. Sorry I am really newbie so I could do dumb question. What is not clear how it solves my issue. I mean, everything works fine providing 5V, is just the provided Amp that is not enough. Connecting an USB source to arduino everything works fine. And I cannot provide more than 5V to the led board and the mp3 player, otherwise they would be burn. Are you suggesting to connect 8V from DC converter to arduino VIN and then use the 5V pin to power the led board and the MP3 player? ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/18 "2022-05-14T23:28:23Z")
> [@morpheus80ta](#): > > I mean, everything works fine providing 5V Didn't you say the servos aren't working? > probably not actually enough to power Arduino plus two servos at max capacity, but the servos never works at their max capacity. If the problem is simply that the batteries can't supply enough power then the answer is obvious - a bigger battery. ---
**Author:** ![morpheus80ta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@morpheus80ta](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/morpheus80ta)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/19 "2022-05-14T23:33:37Z")
Sorry I was not clear, the servo works pretty good, what I meant is that the servos never require to drain the max current because they never lift or push something heavy. This is the status: Powering with 3AA batteries: Servos work, led works but flickering when servo drain more current, speaker play just noise. Powering through USB: Everything works perfectly ---
**Author:** ![anon57585045](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@anon57585045](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon57585045)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866/20 "2022-05-14T23:35:14Z")
Three AA batteries will get you at most 4.5V when fresh, less as they drain. And they aren't that big on current, either. You contradict yourself about the servos - they both work, and yet don't work (cause problems when they operate). Clearly, that is a power supply issue. [Next page](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solved-powering-useless-box/991866.md?page=2)