Can I connect VS=VL and feed power in one side of VS1=VS2, if I dont need VS2?
Rather than using the screw terminals, I’d like to connect power via jumpers from an Arduino Mega or custom power distribution board…
My entire setup had three circuits, each requiring 5VDC plus servo power. I estimate 2A for the servos and .250A or less for each of the three boards. It currently is powered by an 8A PC power supply, which I would like to reduce in size. I am looking at a 3A brick…
To be certain, do you have the SSC-32 or SSC-32U?
For the SSC-32 (serial version), you can certainly leave VS1 = VS2, but if you want VL = VS, you need to ensure the voltage is within the range of acceptable values for VL.
In order to power from the Arduino Mega, you can connect to the power and GND pins on the SSC-32, but be certain the cable can provide enough current. Note that if you do it this way, 5V is not sufficient to power the SSC-32 logic voltage (VL).
Hope this helps, but we can clarify more if needed.
I am referring to the original SSC-32 serial. I am currently powering it through the VS1 terminal, with the VL=VS jumper in place. We’ve had a discussion before on the Lynxmotion forum, but I am powering the entire design from a 5VDC 8A PC power supply. I know it shouldn’t work, but it does, reliably. I note that the Robotshop listing does state that it can be powered by a 5 VDC source.
My question rather is asking if it is possible to power the unit and servos in an unconventional manner. Remove the VS1=VS2 jumpers (since in this particular case, I am not using servos 17-32). Leave VS=VL in place, to power the logic. Then connect power toa set of pins that otherwise would have been used by VS1=VS2. Perhaps the attached diagram would help.
One thing you mentioned may prevent this from working. My current power supply comes in on 14 AWG stranded wires… I was thinking of using jumper wires (which I use to power an outgboard circuit from the SSC-32.) The SSC-32 and servos will probably draw too much current making jumper wires insufficient…
If you want to connect the power for the servos using jumper cables, we’d recommend connecting it to the power and GND pins on a spare servo connector. In the following diagram, we’re using a connect that’s part of VS2 so the VS1=VS2 jumpers need to be installed.
The reason you can’t connect the 5V power to the location you indicated is that both those pins are actually the same time: the two VS1=VS2 jumpers do the same thing, but there’s two of them so that they can handle more current.
Which brings us to an important point: jumper wires aren’t normally rated for 2A continuous current and the servo headers are designed for something like 1A continuous. If you want to use jumper wires, we would recommend using two sets of parallel wires.
Also, if you’re using a regulated 5VDC power supply, we would recommend removing the VL=VS1 jumper and connecting the power also to the + and - pins indicated in the image. This way, you will bypass the 5V regulator on the board and avoid potential problems. These wires though don’t replace or reduce the quantity of the jumper wires mentioned above.
Hope this helps,
