
elektrophunktronic
Canada
Asked

Hello! I have the following setup: Port 0 : IoTiny configured in AP Mode as master Port 1: Arduino via USB Port 2: IoTiny configured in Client Mode connected to Mater IoTiny
In windows I can successfully connect to the AP Mode IoTiny. In ARC I can successfully connect to all three ports. I can send 1 servo command via the IoTinys, but then both automatically disconnect immediately after.
- I have tried changing the IP addresses.
- I have lowered the battery monitor setpoints to 4 V. The Tiny's are running off a power supply at 5V.
Is there something else I should try?
Related Hardware EZ-B IoTiny
You can find more information about the battery monitor on the Power tutorial page here: https://synthiam.com/Support/Get-Started/how-to-make-a-robot/power
It speaks about power requirements for a robot and what kind of batteries are needed, etc.
Thanks, I think I found the main culprit. I swapped out my 24 Gauge wire and replaced it with XT-60 and it seems to be working. The old wires just couldn't carry enough power it seems. If the problem persists, I will stagger the servo firing and also consider powering the servos directly instead of through the Tinys.
Outstanding! I'm glad you're making positive progress.
Wire size and connections are important. As an retired high power distribution linemen these were always one of the main concerns out in the field when a customer would have dimming lights, motors that wouldn't run or burn out or low voltage. However, sometimes the wires would simply heat up, sag, melt or burn down. Not only the wire size was looked at but the condition of the wire. Old copper that was overheated because of overload would become so annealed that it wouldn't conduct much current at all. Super high resistance = heat. You probably didn't notice any heat on your wires or connections because you couldn't run the servos very long before the EZB browned out and disconnected.
Maybe this will help, I've learned to not mess around and take this out of the equation of things that possibly could go wrong. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T7KW70/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Here is a 7.5V transformer with 40amps available and sold on Amazon. This product and the 5v version could be good products for EZ-Robot to sell.
Thanks! Yeah I may upgrade to a higher voltage power supply. For now, the 5V seems to be working after chaning the wires. Mostly though, I have been running the system off my 6V battery which has been working well!
Woohoo awesome!
Unfortunately the problem has returned. The servos controlled by the Tinys either stop responding entirely, or they react super slowly at about 10% regular speed. I have an Arduino mega running from the same battery, running 6 large servos (JX servo PDI-HV2060MG) and they all run fine. I have tried disconnecting most servos that the tinys are only running leaving only 2 smaller servos (JX PDI-6221MG) at a time and the problem persists. They are connected to a fully charged 6V12Ah batter. It seems to be one of the Tinys that fails most often. Sometimes only 5/7 servos stop responding while two function properly.
-Maybe one of the Tinys is a dud?
-Is it possible that the Tinys simply cannot give the required output?
-Is it possible that the clamps do not have enough surface area on the F1 terminals to deliver enough power?
I have these battery clamps: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07QKJDKV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Clamping onto this battery: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B009DKG4WQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The only other idea I have not tried yet is to bypass the power for the servos past the Tinys to power the servos directly. However this would take a long time to wire properly. And if I would have to do this I would probably just choose to no longer use the TInys altogether.
Sounds like the 2.1mm barrel plug side could be causing issues with too much current going through it or it could be the 5A reverse polarity diode is being overwhelmed on the IoTiny. I have seen 2.1mm barrel plugs (CCTV style) open up internally due to too much current draw.
Do you know how much current you are pulling with your servos? Are you driving 7 at once or only a couple at once?
It seems very odd to me that the mega would be able to drive the servos at the same cadence as the IoTiny but not brown out. Are the servos externally powered on the mega? If not the mega would easily brown out with only 2-3 servos moving at once due to it’s linear voltage regular.
A lot of people using inMoovs choose to directly power their servos no matter the control system (IoTiny, EZ-B, mega or otherwise). It is common to power servos external to the control board in these high current DIY applications. There are products out there that help wire this kind of configuration quickly, @smiller29 has some examples of this on his inMoov.