Which batteries to power 18 servos?

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

Hello all,

I am currently working on my hexapod robot project and I am trying to choose a way to power 18 servos connected to an SSC-32.
Do you have any suggestion? What do you use?

Thanks in advance for your help :slight_smile:

(This topic may have already been discussed, sorry if that is the case)

2

That BEC can handle big Amp…

helidirect.com/castle-creations-voltage-regulator-20a-pro-p-15914.hdx

as for batteries you have the choice

hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?catname=Li-Poly+%28All+brands%29&idCategory=86&ParentCat=85

3

I use the standard 2800mah 6v NIMH battery that Lynxmotion sells(lynxmotion.com/p-426-60-volt … -pack.aspx).

It probably does not give you as long of a run time as some of the Lipo batteries, but seeing the videos and the like on Lipo fires/explosions (example: video.google.com/videoplay?docid … 423705609#) , I have not made the jump yet…

Kurt

4

I use lipo for RC Helicopter, plane and car for a long time now.
They are safe if you use them as you should… don’t over charge them or charge them more thant 1c (2500mah 2.5a).

You also need to stop using it before it drain completly. That’s not dangerous but it will likely kill you battery. Most
RC based BEC have cutoff for that.

I will try it on my Quadrapod

But NIMH’s are a very good choice too. and you can arrange cells to the space you have… :stuck_out_tongue:

Eric

5

Thank you all for your answers :smiley:

@Kurte: I don’t think I’m going to use Lipo battery :mrgreen:
Also, how much battery time do you roughly get when powering your hexapod?

6

I honestly can not say. I more or less never run the bot from start of battery charge to end of battery charge I more likely compile something, try it, change it compile it download it… So for this type of usage it works fine…

Kurt

7

LOL …!

8

I’m using a 4000 Ma. lipo on a T-Hex with 19 servo’s, ping sensor, IRPD, two Xbee’s( running continuously) and a cooling fan…I’ve run for over an hour steady and have juice to spare. I’m not sure how long it will go for but now I’m curious so soon I will let you know the full running time. As for lipo’s I read all the stuff about them too…don’t let that stop you from using one there just like any other battery …follow the manufacturers recommended charge/discharge info and you’ll have no problem. Once you try them you’ll never turn back.

9

Finally someone who use them…!

10

I think there are a few people on here that are using lipo’s check the" lipo wars" thread under "General Electronics "

11

Thank you very much to all of you. This are very useful details.
I’m going to have a look at my local hobby store tomorrow to see what’s there :wink:

12

Sounds like a plan,

As I mentioned I have not made the plunge yet. Maybe someday I will, but probably only after Lynxmotion starts to sell them along with a proper charger for them and the like.

As several others have suggested, they are fine as long as you follow all of the precautions and the like. I just worry that maybe I end up with some short circuit, like at the power connections to the BB2 or the like, so I stick with the old school of batteries.

Kurt

13

I personally like the idea of boiling eggs with an atomic reactor :smiley: …seriously thou there are many advantages to using Lipo’s…for one thing I continuously add more stuff to my bot that each time sucks more power…IE: instead of 1 sonar 2…instead of short range ping farther and multiple …which takes more power, also extra servo’s for mabey an arm or 2 arms. What I’m getting at is that in the past I started with minimal batteries to run my bot an got 20 - 25 minutes if I was lucky so I bought more ( Ni-cads ) and it was good for awhile until like I mentioned above I added goodies and …walla…I was back to 20 - 25 minutes run time. So at this point I have almost doubled the battery weight and size and still only get 25 mins or so. :frowning: Now the good part :smiley: I chucked the Ni-cads and the NMH’s and bought the Lipo ( $59.00 ) fits the same space as a 1200 Mah Ni-cad , weighs half the weight approximately and has almost 4 times the power, it runs all the goodies and like I mentioned elsewhere I’ve run the bot steady for over an hour with all goodies turned on and doing something and have tons of power left…as you can tell I’m impressed.

Also as far as price goes I think I spent enough money on ni-cads by upgrading to be able to buy a humongous Mah Lipo and balancing charger…don’t be afraid to get into them…they are no more dangerous than you falling in the tub…and by the way if you short ni-cads or NHM’s they can do serious damage also, so don’t delay, help further develop the bots.

Mark Tilden’s 3 Robotics laws are:

  1. A robot must protect its existence at all costs.
  2. A robot must obtain and maintain access to its own power source.
  3. A robot must continually search for better power sources.

Mark Tilden worked for NASA and I think is returning there and is also the inventor the RoboSapien and the Wow Wee line of robot toys plus Beam Robots …which I have 98 % of in my collection.

Sorry for the long speech :blush: …I think I got excited there. :laughing:

14

Oh, and use a fuse close to the battery…no problems.

15

hobbycity.com/

Has a lot of batteries and good chargers. I was able to order a battery specifically to fit one of my 'bots (took a while, 'tho). Also a charger that I can connect to my lab bench power supply.

Alan KM6VV