Servos + Arduino

Help & Support Robots & Kits
1

Hi,

I’m having an issue that I can’t figure out. I’m using an Arduino microcontroller and a Hitec HS-5475HB. My motor controller is Robot Shop Part: RB-Dim-19 and I’m building the Lynxmotion 2-track base.

My connectors are:

12-cell Battery Pack -> RB-Dim-19 -> Power Board -> Arduino 5v
Motors -> RB-Dim-19
Power Board -> Hitec Servo

I can’t get my servo to spin when I’m running off battery alone. If I plug up the USB cable, the servo spins fine, but when I unhook the USB and turn on the battery power, nothing seems to work. If I unhook the servo from the Power Board, everything works fine. Am I doing something wrong?

2

Thanks for the reply!

(1) Batteries charged
(2) Everything works fine when the servo isn’t connected
(3) I think I’m ok here, but I’m not sure. Here’s a diagram:

BATTERY   ]
   +        -  ]
    |         |

+]---- -------------- -]
+]------ Arduino 5v -]
+] Arduino GND ------]
+]------ Servo ----------- -]
+] ------------------------ -]

servo is on D12, motor controller is on Tx - Thanks for your help!

3

Hi duki,

There could be many reasons for your problem:

] The batteries are dead (unlikely)/:m]
]The batteries are not connected properly (probably the polarity is reversed)./:m]
]The ground levels are not consistent (the most likely reason). You need to make sure that all the logic signals (i.e. the Arduino and the communication end of the motor controller) are all a the same ground level. Also, the motor could have the same or a separate (preferred) ground that should be only determined by the motor controller./:m]

Let us know if you manage to solve your problem.

4

You diagram is a bit cryptic. Would you mind explaining it a bit more?