Ok. First of all sorry if there exists a topic about this thing but I couldn’t find it
My problem is the fallowing:
I’ve a SSC-32 Controller and I want to connect it to my computer so I can test it.
I receive data from SSC and I can send data to it too. I got answer when I time “var” so it responds. The led’s flashing and everithing seemes to be alright except: the servos DOESN’T MOVE AT ALL :’(
for testing we tried everithing:
-1power supply to VL with 8,8V around max 700mA (adapter from 230V)
-1power supply to VL with 7,2V LIPO acu 2200mAh
-2power supply with the 8,8 adapter to VL and a 5V adapter to VS1
what ever we do the servos doesn’t move
We tested the servos whit other controller.
FUTABA-S3003
We connected a BUZZER to the servo PULSE PIN and it didn’t make any noise.
We are going to need to see some images of your wiring. If you can get the version from the SSC-32 then you probably have a servo power problem. Servos will not do anything without some voltage on the black and red wires.
the computer is a
Notebook Asus X71VN
-Intel core2 duo T5850 2,16GHz 2,17GHz
-3GB ram
-64 bit Windows7 OS
-FT232 based USB to RS232 converter with Prolific driver
-On the SSC-32 we have SSC32-V2.03XE as a firmware (delivered with this one)
-All jumpers are on board and now I’m trying to feed it from a
AC-DC ADAPTER
Type: SAX 500
Pri:230V ~ 50Hz 12W
Sec3-4,6-7,5-9-12V
12V 500mA 6VA (max)
variable adapter
I’m using the 6V mark on it cause in that case I can measure 8,8V on the output of it vith a multimeter.
I connect it to VL
In a few hours I’m gonna try to get some camera to take a few pictures or even some videos, till than if you would have some ideas I would be grateful.
I still didn’t get a camera, but I’e found a picture that has the same jumpers as mine: graveyardskulls.com/assembly/Tutorial01.html
the last picture here shows how to connect it to a single 6V supply. That’s what I’m trying to use. I know that adapters power can fluctuate so I’v added a 1000uF capacitor to VL to solve this problems (I’ve already tested without it it does the same. LED fleshes when sliding the vertical trackbar on the right side of the Lynx SSC-32 Terminal (v1.10) but servos doesn’t move at all. Tomorrow I’m gonna go home, so finally I can use my camera to take photos. Till than regards
Hopeless Student (one of the teem)
Check how you’ve plugged in your servos? Black (ground) is to the outside edges of the SSC-32.
500 Ma is not a lot of power (although you might get by). Have you tried just one servo? I’d suggest more like 1 or 2 A for the 6V power.
Did you get a kit from GraveYardskulls? If so, are there rack-and-pinion parts to move something? I’m looking for a rack-and-pinion set for a project of mine.
Dear Alan,
Thx for your help
I’ve tried with only one servo and there is no movements at all
we also added a separate 7,2 LIPO acu and tried to make it work without any success. I’m living in Europe so I had to find some alternative source for the controller so I’ve ordered it from here: robotshop.com/lynxmotion-ssc-32-servo-controller.html
It seems like the Atmege8 gets the signals and the power it needs but like if for some reasons it doesn’t send a signal to the servos. Tomorrow at home I’m gonna try some other adapters. Possibly it is only my bad luck so I got one of the very rare dead controllers but I’m still hoping that it’s only us. We are all programmers on C++,C#, and other object oriented languages, so we have no clue about electronics That’s why we bought the SSC-32 (we read that this is the best servo controller).
I hope that the pictures with the pictures it will turn out that we are missing something so trivial
Hi,
I am not sure how much help I will be here, but maybe a 2nd or 3rd person walking you through a debug process may accidentally find something.
I believe you are using Lynxterm? If so have you recently typed in the VER command and got something back that looks valid? If so that would imply that you have a proper connection to the PC and that you have the right baud rate jumpers set for the baud rate you selected in Lynxterm. Likewise it implies that the processor is working.
I believe you have stated that you are running with just one battery. From this I assume you have the VL=VS jumper (5 in the diagram you posted) installed properly. Likewise you have the VS1=VS2 jumpers (#3 in diagram) installed. If you have a multi-meter can you check the voltages on both sides of the board. That is check the voltages of a VS2 pin(center of a three pin plug) with a ground (outside row of pins) to see if you have power. Verify on the other side of the board as well. Likewise have you checked your battery to make sure it is charged.
What command are you typing into Lynxterm to try to move a servo? Or did you use the slider on the right hand side of the screen. If slider did you properly choose which channel to output. Did you try clicking on the all=1500 button? If you do does it do anything? Likewise as Alan mentioned make sure all of the servo wires are plugged in properly.
Have you tried remove the VL=VS jumper, plug in a 9v battery to the VL input and your AC/DC adapter to either VS1 or VS2. Maybe the SSC-32 is reseting due to power drop…
That is all for now.
Kurt
4) You have verified recently that your servo is working properly. I have been bit before testing something, just to find out that I smoked it in a previous test…
Second, get a wall pack that can actually provide enough power for a servo. Look for at least an amp of regulated power. What you have is a very poor quality pack. Adding the cap actually increases the voltage because the pack is a cheap half wave rectified output with no filtering.
For testing purposes if you power up the SSC-32 the green LED lights up right?
When you do a VER the LED goes out right?
When you type in after that the LED blinks right?
When you command a servo to turn on the green LED is on again isn’t it? This means the SSC-32 has reset because the power it’s receiving is insufficient.
As you have already been instructed, remove the VS1=VL jumper and install the 9vdc battery clip in the VL terminals. Now test it again…
To expand slightly on a few of Robot Dude’s points:
Those tiny little wires are never going to be able to carry the needed current to run any servos. Thicker wires will carry the current much more easily.
To power the SSC-32 with any amount of stability, the onboard 5v regulator needs at least 6v. So just get a simple 9v battery. It will easily supply the needed power to the board.
well when when I try to move the servo the led doesn’t light again just flashes while I send the data than it’s dark again.
I have a 7.4V 3600mAH battery (actually on measuring it’s around 8V). Do you think it would be enough?
With the wall pack set to 6vdc on VS, a 9vdc battery on VL, VS1=VL jumper removed, servo plugged into channel 0, type in VER [enter], get SSC32-V2.03XE back. Green LED is now off. Type #0P1500 [enter] the servo should move and hold the centered position.
You really need to use a 6vdc supply for servos, unless they were specifically designed to work on 7.2/7.4vdc.
I connected a 9V battery to VL with the cable provided to the SSC-32) and the wall pack to VS1 (VL=VS removed) sent the #0P1500 (then pressed enter) nothing happened except the led was flashing for a sec (than dark again)
I’ll get a 6V battery. One more question. Battery with 6V written on or measured 6V?
Can you please take a picture of the last set up with the servo installed?
Turn the SSC-32 power off then on, LED is on steady. Measure the voltage on pin 0. It should be 0vdc. Now click all=1500 and measure it again. It should be ~0.3vdc. If that’s the case then the servo is bad.
I still got to get a 6V battery for the servos and also thicker cables but I’ve tried it out with the wall pack.
I measured about 12-15mA (which I think could be noise) with led lighting (before sending all1500) and the same after on pin0 between ground and pulse
