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how to buy batteries for PSC (parallax servo controller - serial) — Parallax Forums

how to buy batteries for PSC (parallax servo controller - serial)

robo04robo04 Posts: 7
edited 2009-11-06 06:30 in Robotics
can anybody please help me find out where I can find and buy batteries for PSC
by PSC I mean Parallax Servo Controller and I mean the one that connects to BASIC Stamp trough serial connection and not the USB one.

thanks

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-11-06 04:52
    There's nothing special about batteries for either servo controller. Servos are designed to use a power source from about 4.5V to about 7.2V. You can run them off a 7.5V supply, but the higher voltages tend to cause some arcing in the motor brushes and shorten the life of the brushes a little. A battery pack of 4 alkaline cells produces 6V. 5 NiMH or NiCd cells produce 6V and 6 NiMH or NiCd cells produce 7.2V. Most model airplane, boat, and car battery packs produce either 7.2V or 7.5V and either will work with servos.

    The servo controller itself requires a 5V regulated supply. This regulator can be supplied by the same battery pack used for the servos if the battery pack can supply 6V or greater. If you're using an LM7805 regulator rather than an LDO (low drop-out voltage) regulator, you would need an input voltage of 7.2V to 7.5V to the regulator.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2009-11-06 06:30
    Most servos are intended to be used at 4.8V or 6V. I recently burned up a GWS servo using a 2 cel LiPo (7.4V), it wasn't even under a load.

    Unless you know that your servo can handle it, I would not run it at more than 6V. In fact, there are some servos that should not even be used at 6V.

    Here are some ready made 5 cell packs.

    The number of servos you are using, the load they are under and the duration they need to run for are important factors in choosing an appropriate battery pack.

    You may also need a good charger.

    Rich H

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Simple Servo Tester, a kit from Gadget Gangster.
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