I'm working with my very first Arduino project that requires using quite a strong servo motor in a car.
My problem is the voltage: the battery of my car is 12 volts and the servo (MG996R) requires 5 volts.
I think that the servo draws so much current (even 2 amps) that it can't be powered from the 5 V pin of the Arduino, right? So what's the easiest and cheapest way to reduce the car voltage to servo level?
Of course, I could use 3 or 4 AA batteries, but it would be quite uncomfortable to change them intermittently...
A linear regulator like the 7805 is going to be worse than 40% efficient. It will be emitting more heat than the servo. You will need a large heatsink and a way of mounting that heavy heatsink securely in your car.
A Pololu switching regulator is over 90% efficient, so it will barely get warm. They have a great range of different ones available, to suit your purposes.
Yes, but getting a good thermal connection to the car isn't easy. Also cars are usually made of steel which is a poor conductor of heat when compared to aluminum. Bigger don't help if the heat don't flow.
MorganS:
A linear regulator like the 7805 is going to be worse than 40% efficient. It will be emitting more heat than the servo. You will need a large heatsink and a way of mounting that heavy heatsink securely in your car.
A Pololu switching regulator is over 90% efficient, so it will barely get warm. They have a great range of different ones available, to suit your purposes.
Thank you! That's what i've been looking for.
Can I use a 2,5 A version instead of a 5 A version? I found some on eBay and they are cheaper... So will 2,5 A be enough for MG996R servo?
