Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
PROBLEM with SERVO — Parallax Forums

PROBLEM with SERVO

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-12-10 08:03 in General Discussion
Im trying to get a CIRRUS 21BB servo to work on batteries ; I am NOT using a
servo controller like the ferretronics FT - 639. Instead I am using the stamp
with the following code to send pwm signals to the control line of the servo.

servo:

pulsout 15,1200

pause 20

goto servo



this sends a 2.4ms pulse at a little more than 50 (53) Hz.

Now the problem is this:

When i used a good power supply to give 4.8V it(the servo) was running fine. I
then wanted to switch to batteries so i used 3 D size (the big ones) 1.5V in
series to create around 4.5v. The servo would just settle into one position and
refuse to budge. For any given control signal width .

I monitored the potential drop that the battery had when the control signal was
being sent . the battery is sturdy and giving a good 4.4v.

This is baffling. I thought it was the batteries but the batteries are providing
a good stable voltage supply. Please help.





Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-10 03:11
    It sounds like a similar problem I had with motors. I could run my stamp and
    motors on 4 nicad batteries, but not on 4 NiMH batteries. I also could not
    see any voltage drop using my volt meter. I think you have a signal problem.
    I think the servos are drawing some amperage causing a spike that is messing
    up your stamp.
    is the stamp resetting? put a sound line before the servo command loop. See
    if the sound plays continually. that will tell you if the stamp is resetting.
    Did you try various filters on the stamp inputs, and high value caps to
    filter out any wierd spikes?
    Finally run your D cell batteries to the servo, and power the stamp from a
    tottaly seperate source, that should really tell you if its the power supply
    problem.
    I myself run 4 C cell batteries on 2 wheel servos and the stamp and have
    been lucky.
    -Kerry


    At 02:19 PM 12/9/02 -0800, you wrote:
    >
    >Im trying to get a CIRRUS 21BB servo to work on batteries ; I am NOT using
    a servo controller like the ferretronics FT - 639. Instead I am using the
    stamp with the following code to send pwm signals to the control line of the
    servo.
    >
    >servo:
    >
    >pulsout 15,1200
    >
    >pause 20
    >
    >goto servo
    >
    >
    >
    >this sends a 2.4ms pulse at a little more than 50 (53) Hz.
    >
    >Now the problem is this:
    >
    >When i used a good power supply to give 4.8V it(the servo) was running
    fine. I then wanted to switch to batteries so i used 3 D size (the big ones)
    1.5V in series to create around 4.5v. The servo would just settle into one
    position and refuse to budge. For any given control signal width .
    >
    >I monitored the potential drop that the battery had when the control signal
    was being sent . the battery is sturdy and giving a good 4.4v.
    >
    >This is baffling. I thought it was the batteries but the batteries are
    providing a good stable voltage supply. Please help.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >Do you Yahoo!?
    >Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
    >
    >[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    Happy Holidays: Visit my Christmas webpage at
    http://mntnweb.com/xmas.htm
    Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
    Kerry
    Admin@M...
    WWW server hosting [url=Http://mntnweb.com]Http://mntnweb.com[/url]
    Kerry Barlow
    p.o. box 21
    kirkwood ny
    13795
    607-775-1575
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-10 08:03
    If you have a multimeter with a min/max feature you can often catch these
    low-voltage situations. Just monitor the battery or processor voltage while
    running the motor, then check your min value -- it should show you if the
    voltage is being pulled down enough to reset the Stamp.

    Original Message


    > It sounds like a similar problem I had with motors. I could run my stamp
    and
    > motors on 4 nicad batteries, but not on 4 NiMH batteries. I also could not
    > see any voltage drop using my volt meter. I think you have a signal
    problem.
    > I think the servos are drawing some amperage causing a spike that is
    messing
    > up your stamp.
    > is the stamp resetting? put a sound line before the servo command loop.
    See
    > if the sound plays continually. that will tell you if the stamp is
    resetting.
    > Did you try various filters on the stamp inputs, and high value caps to
    > filter out any wierd spikes?
    > Finally run your D cell batteries to the servo, and power the stamp from a
    > tottaly seperate source, that should really tell you if its the power
    supply
    > problem.
    > I myself run 4 C cell batteries on 2 wheel servos and the stamp and have
    > been lucky.
Sign In or Register to comment.