Power via USB

Problem

You want to power the Make Controller Kit via the USB port.

 

Solution

This is a very simple how-to.  Simply plug your Make Controller Kit into your computer with the USB cable provided in order to power it.  You should see the red light on the Controller Board turn on, which simply signifies that power has been applied, and if you've already uploaded Heavy to the board, you should see the green status LED on the Controller Board blink once a second.

 

Discussion

Powering via USB is very convenient, especially while programming, but note that you will only be able to provide the board (and any connected devices) with limited current through the USB port - about 500 mA or so.  This is fine for powering a sensor or two, a couple LEDs, or even a small servo with no load, but much more than that and you'll want to provide a heftier power supply to the board.  There's no danger of damaging your computer by pulling too much current through the USB port, as the computer will stop providing power and shut the board down if this starts to happen.