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Simple Servo Question - What other electronics do I need? — Parallax Forums

Simple Servo Question - What other electronics do I need?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-10-16 16:52 in General Discussion
I am attempting to build my first robot (based on the BOEbot) and
have a quick question about the components I need to include for the
drive mechanism. I plan on powering the Stamp II "robot brain" with
6v (4 AA batteries) and use "standard" servos as the drive mechanism
(modified for continuous rotation of course). The Robotics!
curriculum indicates the need for a 3300uF capacitor to be placed
across Vss and Vdd. It also indicates the need for a 1k resistor to
be placed across the "pin" and the "ground" (or is it the "pin" and
the "power" lines of the servo?). Given my power source and type of
servo, are the capacitor and resistors needed? If so, do I need such
a large capacitor? Could I use two or three smaller ones? If so,
how would I wire multiple capacitors?

I appreciate anyone's help with this!

Steve Joblin
Philadelphia, PA

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-10-16 16:52
    --- In basicstamps@egroups.com, sjoblin@a... wrote:
    > I am attempting to build my first robot (based on the BOEbot) and
    > have a quick question about the components I need to include for
    the
    > drive mechanism. I plan on powering the Stamp II "robot brain"
    with
    > 6v (4 AA batteries) and use "standard" servos as the drive mechanism
    > (modified for continuous rotation of course). The Robotics!
    > curriculum indicates the need for a 3300uF capacitor to be placed
    > across Vss and Vdd. It also indicates the need for a 1k resistor
    to
    > be placed across the "pin" and the "ground" (or is it the "pin" and
    > the "power" lines of the servo?). Given my power source and type
    of
    > servo, are the capacitor and resistors needed? If so, do I need
    such
    > a large capacitor? Could I use two or three smaller ones? If so,
    > how would I wire multiple capacitors?
    >
    > I appreciate anyone's help with this!
    >
    > Steve Joblin
    > Philadelphia, PA
    \
    Steve,

    I could not find a 3300uf cap so I wired some caps in parallel. I
    was 100 uf off, but the servo ran fine. Wiring several caps in
    parallel will increase the size of the cap(ex. 1000uf in parallel
    with 100 uf will give you 1100 uf). Be careful of the polarity of
    the caps. I once put 5 volts dc though a cap wired backwards on
    purpose to see what would happen. Luckily I chose a small cap to do
    this. The cap got hot and exploded in about 20 seconds. Also, be
    mindful of your grounds if you are using separate power supplies for
    the servo and stamp.

    Good luck on your project.

    Frank G.
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