Asked — Edited

Using Heavy-Duty Servos

I notice that alternate power is recommended for larger servos- but the alternate power source ports were removed from the EZ-Board starting with v3. Can I still supply servos unregulated 6v power using this board?


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Synthiam
#1  

You can but you will have to permenatenetentenetly modify the board. Your best solution is to modify a servo extension cable. Cut the +5 and GND (Red and Black) from the extension cable and connect directly to your 6v power source.

In one week there will be a servo expansion board. I'm working on a line of EZ-Bits, which are peripheral expansions to the EZ-B. One is for servos to have their own power supply. Another is for Serial rs232 input/output. Another is for a sound module. And a few more :)

They are being drawn up right now - will be sent to the printers soon as we have free time

#2  

These add-on's sound great! Can't wait to get it all hooked up! Thnx DJ Sures :)

#3  

@ConfoundedHound - Thanks for asking that question. I had wondered how to go about doing that myself. Glad to hear from DJ's answer that my thinking wasn't far off.

@DJ - cool "EZ-Bits" I like that name! Can't wait to see what expansions you've cooked up!

#4  

Kudos to you DJ! The business is really taking off due to your hard efforts as well as your team!

#5  

So if I understand this correctly, pull power into the servo directly from the battery but have the signal wire (white) only tied into a DO port? Also, on the heavy duty servo MG995 which color is the ground and which is the signal on the wire lead?

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Synthiam
#6  

@bret no not directly to the battery if it exceeds the maximum voltage of the servos. An EZ-Bit is coming in the next two weeks for alternate servo power.

You can still run those heavy duty servos off the EZ-B IF the battery pack can support it. When I use the Omnibot 2000 with moving arms and head running those servos - it uses 2.5 amps - according to my power checker thingy

#7  

Thanks DJ, I am using the 6 volt 4500mah omnibot battery so the servos are fine to take that. But if I can just go thru the board that would be even better. I am running 4 heavy duty servos and 3 mini servos. I just didn't want to brown out the board. Also, my heavy duty servos are the MG995s with the weird colored wire in the lead. Which color is which? Thank you.

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Synthiam
#8  

The dark wire is the ground. I think it's a kind of brown color

#10  

Hi DJ, any word on the servo Expansion Board? Curious minds want to know... ;)

Canada
#12  

EZ-bits are still in development, we are getting caught up on shipping out the boards that were ordered in the preorder.

#13  

Ok I'm definitely interested in this new board , somthing I recomend to those moving up to high torque servo is getting a servo extension cable from a hobby store and cut up that cable. This way your not permenantnantnatly modifying a servo if its avoidable and you can upgrade to DJs ezbit board later. Having the ext gives extra slack for mounting options too!