I'm working on a project that involves a turret controlled by a servo motor connected to a microbit. The issue is that it functions perfectly when the microbit is connected via USB, but as soon as I switch to a battery pack (two 1.5 volt AAA batteries), it just hums quietly and doesn't operate. The voltage limit for my project is strict, and I can't go above 3 volts. I'm looking for any insights or suggestions on why this might be happening and how to fix it.
2 Answers
It sounds like the voltage from your battery pack isn't sufficient for your servo. Most small servos generally need around 5 volts to operate correctly, whereas the 3 volts from your AAA batteries just isn't cutting it. You might want to consider either getting a different servo that's rated for lower voltage or using a voltage booster to increase the power output. Check out some options for that!
You're right; most servos do prefer around 5 volts. The USB ensures that proper power is supplied, but the 3 volts from AAAs likely can't provide enough juice. Since you're already using up some of your voltage budget on other circuits, finding a suitable power source or a lower voltage servo might be your best bet without affecting your marks.
That's a bummer! I can't use a 5V battery pack either. I'm stuck at 9 volts total across circuits, and I'm really worried that switching anything will impact my score.
I’ve never heard of voltage boosters before. What exactly do they do? I might try another servo, but I'm not sure if that'll solve the issue.