Ez-b With Sabertooth Motor Controller

Question

Hi there, I just got my EZ-b and I am trying to make it work with this https://www.robotshop.com/ca/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Dim-30&lang=en-US

I have the motors driving using a regular hobby radio receiver and transmitter plugged into the servo board.

I have tried the Movement Panel connecting it to d0 and I can only get the motors to twitch

any ideas?

DJ Sures · Answer

Press the ? button on the Sabertooth Motor Control and view the help tutorial. Consult the manual for your sabertooth to ensure the settings match the tutorial

tklass · Answer

would that be the sabertooth serial control under the H bridge?

tklass · Answer

I set the jumpers on the board the way in which it describes on the image and as soon as I connect the S1 connector to EZ-B the wheels start spinning randmonly

tklass · Answer

I originally thought I could just use it as described here EZ-Robot suggests connect Sabertooth Motor Controllers in R/C mode. This allows the user to control the motor speed and direction with the Modified Servo Movement Panel. But nothing happens when connected to the EZ-B I have ver 1.03 of the sabertooth maybe that's not compatible with EZB?

DJ Sures · Answer

lol Follow these steps please: 1) Press the ? button on the Sabertooth Motor Control 2) Vew the help tutorial. 3) Consult the manual for your sabertooth to ensure the settings match the tutorial 4) If the jumper settings are different for your sabertooth compared to the tutorial, change them according to your manual. The settings you'll need are in the tutorial Do not bother using the servo control with the sabertooth - they don't have a super reliable pwm monitor. Use the serial version. Ensure you have followed the manual for the Sabertooth to put it into Serial mode at the specified BAUD rate of the tutorial.

tklass · Answer

thanks this is the manual I have does not mention serial mode would you be able to look at the link and let me know if any of these jumper settings would work there are only a few https://www.dimensionengineering.com/datasheets/Sabertooth2x10RC.pdf

tklass · Answer

I found the settings and they are set correctly setup. The servo pad control makes the motors work correctly however that's the only control I have been able to make work

DJ Sures · Answer

It doesn't look like your motor driver supports serial mode - if that is the correct manual. So, you will have to resort to Servo mode. Due to that, I do not have any configuration values to suggest. You will need to expirement with the Modified Servo Movement Panel to determine what values to use. You can use a "Vertical Servo" control at first. Move it slowly and write down the values of the speeds you wish. Use those values in the Modified Servo Movement Panel. I cannot suggest what dip switch setting to use because I have no experience with that Sabertooth. If you need additional support, I would recommend contacting the manufacturer.

jstarne1 · Answer

If you get it working tklass let me know. They just sent me their new 2 x 12 h bridge and I have never used one given this is my first robot.

DJ Sures · Answer

@jstarne check to see if it has serial mode - if so, you're good to use our control. Otherwise, i cannot give suggestions to use servo mode because I have no experience with it.

I had one Sabertooth controller that i could have tested with - but it stopped working. I'm can't justify spending another $XXX dollars on another.

jstarne1 · Answer

The model they sent can use a few different options , one is rc , these are the others.

jstarne1 · Answer

This means I can use serial connections on ezb?

tklass · Answer

I have the same one and followed the directions for both serial modes at 38400 which does not respond with ez b unless you use the servo Tab which works perfectly.

Jim Milan · Answer

I'm using (2) sabertooths 2 x 12 in my ARMadeus robot. One is set in the RC mode, the other simplified serial mode (9600 baud). Both work fine with the EZ-B.

tklass · Answer

can you let me know what controls you are using in serial mode and your dip switch config ?

tklass · Answer

DJ - Is there a better motor controller that you would recommend. I am using the luxmotion kit with 4 motors that should drive like a tank. I don't need mixing for now.

Jim Milan · Answer

@tklass The dip switch settings for simplified serial mode that I used are : Switch 1 Up Switch 2 Down Switch 3 Up Switch 4 Down Switch 5 Up Switch 6 Up I'm using a Logitech F510 Gamepad for my robot control. I configured the right joystick to control two linear actuators with the serial mode Sabertooth 2 x 12. The default left joystick was configured to control a movement panel with different speed controllers. I hope this helps a little. Jim

tklass · Answer

thanks @Jim Milan i'll give that a shot thats

DJ Sures · Answer

Jim, if you posted your project, that might help TKlass. @JStarne you can use packet serial. Press the ? button on the Sabertooth Control and view the tutorial. That will show you which configuration settings you will need. Compare those settings with your manual, they may be different. You care about the Packet Serial and Baud Rate.

tklass · Answer

Can you recommend a better motor controller?

tklass · Answer

This tutorial you speak of, when I click the ? It takes me to the jumper config screen, but does not talk about configuration options for the control. Am I missing something ?

DJ Sures · Answer

@Tklass - please follow the jumper configuration in the tutorial page after pressing the ? Compare the jumper configurations to the manual for your Sabertooth - in case they are different.

tklass · Answer

the jumpers are the same and i have confirmed that they match the documentation on the motor controller. can you tell me why the servo pad works fine and controls the motors? i am not sure the difference if i use the horizontal servo control then i can make the motors run as well. I just cannot use the sabertooth control so i cannot make the bot move forward and back left and right

tklass · Answer

Thanks for all the help everyone I figured out that the problem was the sabercontroller itself. When I tried my buddy's controller it works perfectly as expected. I will be sending mine back. Thanks again for the support !

MovieMaker · Answer

tklass, You can also call up the sabertooth factory for support. They really spent time with me and helped me get mine going. They told me stuff that was not the same as in the manual. Good luck! :-)

jstarne1 · Answer

That's cool Mel, I contacted them to get the sabertooth 2 x 12 h bridge

tklass

Ez-B With Sabertooth Motor Controller

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