Connect BS1 to servo controller

dmehling

I am wanting to connect my BS1 microcontroller to this Pololu servo controller:
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/207

The servo controller requires a 4.8-6.0v power supply for the servos and a 5-16v power supply for the servo controller itself. On my BS1 I have already made a 5v regulated power supply. Is there any way that I could use the power on my microcontroller to supply all the power needs on my servo controller?

Mike Green

You should be able to run the servo controller off the same +5V supply as the BS1.· The link you included does not include a schematic or user's manual, but it does say that the servo controller will operate from a +5V supply which is what you have.

Larry

BUT-

if you are trying to run the servos off the BS1 supply, I wouldn't recommend that. Unless it's one (maybe two) servos.

dmehling

So I think what both of you are saying is that I could run the servo controller itself off of the regulated power supply on my microcontroller, but probably not for the servos themselves. So I would need to have a separate power supply for that. How could I do that? I'm not wanting to use batteries. Could I just wire it up to a regular AC to DC adapter?

Mike Green

A lot depend on what type of regulator you have. A "low drop-out" regulator will operate with as little as 1/2V difference between input and output. If you have a low drop-out 5V regulator, you could easily operate the servo controller and BS1 using the regulator and a 6V AC to DC adapter. If the adapter has enough current capacity, you could also operate the servo(s). Keep in mind that a servo can draw as much as 1A peak current and typically draws as much as 250mA average current. The AC to DC adapter would need to be able to supply enough current for all of the servos plus peak current for one or more servos depending on how you plan to use them (the BS1 and servo controller would draw only a fraction of the current drawn by the servos).

kenwtn

I have the same controller and if you can connect both the 4.8-6.0v power supply for the servos and a 5-16v power supply for the servo controller itself to VIN and GND.

Post Edited (kenwtn) : 5/7/2008 11:34:55 PM GMT