It’s a new rechargeable battery pack, that I only used for SSC-32 (I’m not running mini-ABB, only SSC-32) … It discharged after approximately 20-30 mins, using 3 Hitec HS-422 servo motors …
I need to use it on 8 servo motors (HS-422) for a longer period !
If the discharge time is normal, isn’t there any solution ?
If the problem is from the battery pack, is there’s another suggestion ?
Thanks in advance !!
20-30mins on a 1400mah pack suggests you are pulling an average of 3A or so… across 3 servos… if you are actively using them to move stuff around then this does not seem unreasonable, especially if it’s an older pack. Increasing the voltage will not solve the problem, increasing the capacity (mah) should.
Actually, I’m not moving anything with them !
I was just trying the SSC-32 with servos only (nothing else attached to them)
Is there a limit for the capacity (mAh) ? or I should just get the highest one I find ?
Thanks !
Did you fully charge the pack before using it? Many rechargable packs are only shipped at about 40% capacity. If you did charge it then something is not making sense, although the setup is simple enough that even a wiring error would be difficult. The SSC-32 plus 3 idle servos should be a couple of hundred mA at most, which should run for several hours from a 1400mAh pack. As a point of reference, a common r/c plane setup with 4 servos runs for most of an hour off of a 500mAh pack.
Do all 3 servos actually operate when you send them commands?
Yes, at first they did all operate when I sent simultaneous commands…
Now, If I send 3 simultaneous commands, the servos barely move (few degrees) … If I send just 1 command to 1 servo, it will move correctly
I am in the process of recharging the battery pack, but thought of checking whether buying a new one would be better or not …
Thanks for the input !
An HS-422 servo only draws 36mA when on and holding a position with no load. So 3 of them is only 108mA! So your battery should be able to run the servos in this state for almost 13 hours. Your problem is below…
A. One of the servos is defective and drawing way too much current.
B. You battery is defective and is not delivering the amount it is rated for.
By swaping out the battery pack or the servos it should be easy to figure out which is the problem. Good luck!
I have 12 brand new HS-422 and 2 new HS-311 … Each one is working well on its own, but they are not moving when coupled with each other …
The problem is from the battery, is there a limit for the capacity (mAh) or the higher the better ?
Thanks
One last thing. The power delivery system includes the battery of course, but it also includes the wires that carry the current. Are your battery wires big and think, or tiny little things. Your wires shouyld be 18awg or bigger. Your problem could also be a defective plug or switch.
Not little bitty like these…
Yeah, stay away from the teency weency wires. You want curent to flow freely.
can i conect a 9vdc battery to the ssc-32? the pdf says taht the max is 6v.
its for move 2 continious rotation servos.
Sigh… that’s just not true. The PDF does not tell you the VL input max is 6vdc. It says the max for the VL is 9.0vdc. You can connect 4.8vdc to 7.2vdc to the VS terminal.
so,i cant use a 9v battery no?
You can use a 9v battery. It’s fine, and a very common solution.
Yes, you CAN power the logic (VL) only with a 9V battery.
You must REMOVE the VL=Vs jumper to use a separate power source for the logic (VL) and servos (Vs).
You can NOT power servos (Vs) with a 9V battery due to the fact they require much more current. For servos, get a good 6.0V battery pack and charger from Lynxmotion.
8-Dale
The #1 thing you should do is read the manual… or at least look real hard at the pictures 
If you do not read the manual then you shall have no pie. 
If you do read the manual 8)
then you will see there are three (3) power connectors labeled VL, VS1, and VS2.
VL is Volts for Logic
VS1 is Volts for Side 1
VS2 is Volts for Side 2
You will also see there are two (2) sets of jumpers.
VL=VS1 connects VL to VS1
VS2=VS1 connects VS2 to VS1
VS1 and VS2 power the servos and need a battery or power supply with significant current, typically 2 or more amperes. The voltage must be between 4.8 and 7.2 volts.
Typically people use a single 6V battery and install the VS2=VS1 jumpers. You can install the VS2=VS1 jumpers and use a single battery for both sides, OR you can leave the jumpers out and use different batteries and/or voltage on each side. What you choose to do depends on what you are building.
VL powers the microprocessor. While this does not take much current it must be between 6 and 11 volts. If the power connected to VS1 is within this range and it can supply lots of current for the servos then you can install the VL=VS1 jumper which will also power the microprocessor from the VS1 supply. If you discover your board resets or acts erratic when you move a bunch of servos at once then your battery or supply is not capable of supplying both the servos and the logic. Remove the VL=VS1 jumper and connect a common 9V alkaline battery on the VL connector.
Clear enough? 
EB
:mrgreen:
Hello !
I am using a 6V 1400mAh NiMH 5 cell battery pack and I’m encountering problems recharging it. I bought a universal AC/DC adaptor that outputs 6V DC (at 500mA) , and linked it to the battery, but it isn’t recharging …
Anyone knows why ?
On the other hand, can I directly plug this adaptor to the SSC-32 (it would then be a constant 6V current !) ??
Thank you for the support !
second question first, it is unlikely 500mA will be enough to run multiple servos if they are under any significant load. you could remove the VL=VS1 jumper and use the wall charger for the VL input, but you will need to connect something beefier, like your battery, to the VS1 / VS2 supply inputs.
first question, couple of possibilities exist but the one that jumps to the top of my list is if the wall pack has a regulated 6V output (which I’ll tell you how to check in a sec) then it probably can’t fully charge a 5-cell pack. An individual cell can be from 0.9V fully discharged to about 1.4V when fully charged so a 5-Cell pack can run from 4.5V to around 7V. So if your wall adapter outputs 6V regardless of the load then it will not be able to fully charge the cells. A way to check this is to plug the wall adapter in and with no load attached measure its output voltage. If with no load it is around 7V then it should be able to charge the pack but it night take a long time (10-14 hours.) If the wall adapter outputs 6V with no load then it is probably a regulated output (or you have really low AC coming from your outlets) and it will not be able to fully charge the pack.
:mrgreen:
Thanks for the answer EddieB !
I was out of internet connection and couldn’t check earlier !!!
Meanwhile, I bought another 6V wall adapter …
I have now:
Question 1: Are the adapters suitable for the application ?
Question 2: Which adapter would be better for Logic, and which would be better for Servo (with reference to the images in the beginning of this topic) ?
Question 3: What output would be better for the universal adaptor (6, 7.5 or 9 V DC at 500 mA) if it will be connected to the Logic, or if it will be connected to the Servo ?
Hopefully, I won’t “bug” you more than that 
Thanks for the help !!
I just got my brat kit the other day, and I love it. I just can’t get the power switch cables to stay in the screw terminals of the SSC-32. I’m sure that I’m not doing something right, and I think it may have to do with tinning or soldering the ends of the wires. I’ve tried to tin the wires by soldering the ends, but they’re then too big to fit in the screw terminals. I hope there might be a plug or something to put in the terminals that can hook over the terminal housing so the wires won’t fall out.
Do NOT tin the ends of the wires on the power cables. The screw terminals won’t be able to clamp down on the wires if they are tinned. This is one thing I was doing wrong until Jim set me straight.
8-Dale
