You are here: Home → Documentation → Tutorials → Application Board Overview → Servos
In This Section
Log in


Forgot your password?
New user?
 
Document Actions

Servos

A description of the 4 servo controls available on the Application Board.
A tour through the features of the Application Board.
Page 4 of 7.
The Make Application Board can control up to 4 standard servo motors. The servo connectors are marked on the board with the labels Srv0 - Srv3. The 3-spot connectors from hobby servo motors can be plugged directly onto these connectors - be sure that the ground wire on the connector (usually black) is connected to the pin marked Gnd on the board.

appboard_servos.png

Servo Power

Normally, servo motors run on 5V. The Application Board is set by default to power the servos from the 5V line on the board. If you need more power than is available from the power supply on the board, you can configure the servo jumper to power the servos from an external supply. The voltage on the VSrv line is determined by the position of the servo power select jumper - it will either be the 5V line on the board, or the voltage from an external power supply.

To use an external supply, make sure the board is unplugged, and switch the servo jumper so that it is closest to the VExtS ("Voltage External Servo") label on the board. Then connect your external supply to the 2-position external power connector, making sure the polarity is correct. This can be nice as it keeps the 5V line on the board clear from potential noise created by the servos.

Note - the Make Controller Kit cannot draw very much current over a USB connection (about 500 mA at most), so trying to drive servo motors with the board powered only by USB is not a very good idea.

Next: Power Previous: Digital Outputs