Actobotics Dual Motor Controller Power question

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

I have a question about the power on this product:

Sorry about the size of that pic.

I assume that the 12VDC I plan to put in the center connectors labeled GND and V+ on the bottom of the board will not only power my 12VDC motor, but also power the board itself. Is that correct?

The second question is about the inputs using IN1 and IN2. I will be running this in servo mode with both jumpers on. IN1 and IN2 both have contacts for a GND, %V, and the signal wire. I am NOT using a wireless RC servo controller. I am using a powered Servo controller card that does not need power from the board to drive it. It is already powered by another 5V power supply. It appears that the 5V pin in IN1 and IN2 is a 5VOUTPUT, used to power RC controllers, and I will have problems if I plug a jack in there and feed 5V into that output. So my question is, do I cut the 5V wire from the servo connector and only connect the GND and the Signal wire to those inputs?

Finally, I was planning to use a 5K POT for feedback. Some controllers prefer a 10K POT. I have both. Which of those should I use, or is there a different value that would be more appropriate?

That is all. I hope to get this up and working this weekend, so I hope I hear back from you soon.

Bob

2

I have worked out all the questions in the above post except for the value of the POT needed. I have come across a new problem and have a potential solution for it, but I need to know if anyone knows if it will work.

Here’s the problem:
I am using a DMX servo controller card. The only choice I have with the controller card for servos is a range from a minimum servo setting of 250, a default (center) position of 750 and a maximum of 1250. That’s all I have to work with.

From what I can tell, this Motor Controller only sees servo settings of 1000, 1500, 2000.

This means that although it does work, the motor controller only reacts to a small portion of my servos range (1000 to 1250) and the amount of motion I get is too small to do the job.

I’m not sure if using a different value potentiometer will make a difference or not. I am using a 5K.

Here’s my plan. Since I am getting a little less than a quarter or a turn when I go from one extreme to the other, I propose replacing my 5K potentiometer, with a 5K multi-turn potentiometer. I found a 3 turn one for about $20 plus shipping.

I am making the assumption that the Motor Controller is using the potentiometer to figure out where the motor is in space. When it reaches a certain value, it stops moving. This new potentiometer will have to travel 3 times as far to reach the same value as the one currently attached to the motor. Presumably, it will bring the motor with it, thus, increasing the range of motion of the motor. I might even have to reduce the range I program (in servo settings) and still get all the motion I need. I only need a half a turn of the motor to do what I need. My guess is this will also provide smoother motion at slow speeds, but I’m basing that assumption purely on a guess on my part.

So the big question is, will my proposed solution do what I think it will do?

My alternate question is, will a different value of potentiometer increase my range of motion. That is something I can try sooner, before the muti-turn POT arrives.

Thank you.