
MovieMaker

Ok, here is what I finally came up with. Please give me feedback:
I start off with 12vdc which goes to the switch and base. From there it goes to a BUCK 15A Regulator which steps it down to 7.2V and it goes to EVERYTHING else. Two EZBs get their power from this. The two arms get their power. So, I will be operating two EZBS and 17 Heavy Duty servos from this 15A regulator. I have 43 more 2A regulators if I need them. But, I hate to wire all of those. I am running out of room to put all of this.
Oh, by the way, I get the power from three 9AH 12vdc PowerSonic Gel Cels. Oh,and MONEY has become an issue.
Suggestions Welcome.
Thanks,
I ask because if they are V3s there is no need to regulate the supply therefore allowing more current for the servos.
15A to power 17 heavy duty servos which can pull as much as 2A on full load (depending on the servo used) may be a little undersized. Personally I allow 5A for every 2 servos, this way I know it wont be too demanding for the regulator (as previously stated elsewhere, 2 x Tower Pro MG995s and 1 x LCD display were causing my EZ-B to brown out therefore were pulling over 5A combined).
Personally speaking I would supply the EZ-Bs with 12V. Regulate the VCC from the EZ-B to 7.2v (if V4) with the individual 2A regulators.
You could also power the V4 from the batteries. Connect the regulator to the batteries and take all VCC and Ground from the regulator rather than the EZ-B... in other words only the signal from the EZ-B is used.
Although I am concerned that the 15A regulator is not going to be man enough to power everything.
Thanks for your help. We will see what other people think.
*confused*
The V3 works fine on 12v. My test rig runs on 12v and the on-board regulators barely get warm.
@moviemaker , you already have all those 2 amp regulators on the way so why don't you use those? It will add some time to your build but that is unavoidable because no matter the configuration it all must be wired. I picked up some big ones rated at 12 amps for 10 bucks before I linked above.
Unless you are saying tie directly to the little ones from 12v Battery?
In that case, I run out of room to put all the wires and such. But, we will see.
Maybe I can put the regulators inside the arms.
This way the EZ-Bs aren't eating in to the regulated supply, leaving the full 15A for servos and motors. It also means that you could put sensors etc. from the V3 without any regulator needed and 5v servos without any regulator needed, this would also not be taken from the 7v2 15A regulator leaving more power for those power hungry hd servos.
The V4 would output the full 12v on the VCC pins but these could then be regulated down with the smaller 7v2 2A regulators you mentioned, again not eating in to the 15A regulated supply but still providing 7v2 to the servos where needed.
I also added on a note after I drew it up about the H-Bridge. It may be possible to take it's supply direct from the batteries rather than using the 7v2 regulated supply (check the motors). The DC motors will no doubt demand high current so it would be best to avoid supplying them from the regulator if possible, or if they do need 7v2 then possibly add in another regulator for the motors.
Hopefully that all makes sense.
Then run the sensors off of the EZB Ver.3.
Then run all servos off of the 7.2V Regulated 15A supply.
Install 5v regulators on the sensors that go to the Ver.4 , if any.
I have two H-Bridges. One for the Base and one for the shoulders.
So, run the base off of 12vdc to give it more power.
Put the shoulders on a 12v battery source.
I have 14 heavy duty servos in the arms.
I have 2 pitman motors in the shoulders
I have 1 sonar scan servo HeavyDuty.
So, that is 16 servos and I have only ONE 15A Buck Regulator.
Is this what you said? I think I understand.
Although I wouldn't put the shoulder motors on the 7.2v regulated unless they have to have 7.2v. If they can accept 12v I would come direct from the battery. Check the motor and H-Bridge ratings though.
Rich, I wanted to say something. I have been retired for a while. But, when I was working, I had a job that I was a supervisor/manager. I was in charge of one young man called: Hugo Rapsen. He came over from the UK the day before. and he was such a nice, dedicated young man. He was quick and he was correct in most all of his calculations. I just thought a lot of him. Anyway, you remind me of him because you have all of those same characteristics. Also, he was a Linux man. He breathed Linux. He was sold on Linux. Our company had not gone over to linux yet. I personally was operating UBUNTU at the time.
With that being said, I will stop jabbering.
Besides, it is a welcomed escape. Believe it or not I also work an 8.5 hour day 8am-4:30pm, come home and work again for 7 hours from 5pm until around midnight (hence very little progress on Melvin lately). These little breaks are what keep me sane I guess