MobiFlight Community Support

Hi im running 2 SG90 micro servos with no load plus say 10 LEDs.., e.g. needles only, and have a 5V 2A attached to the arduino board itself via the barrel connector...would I be better off switching to an external power supply to a breadboard and power the servos from there?..... and if so whats the benefit here to using the onboard barrel connector?

I have no issues to date but wanted to double check with you guys!

I read the pins can only take 40mA then again under no load the Servos rate at 100mA so what gives ..

any advice would be helpful

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately, the 2A supplied by your power supply is of no use to you with the Mega. The Mega itself can max. Deliver 800mA in total, so the 40mA for an output is more theoretical.
It is usually sufficient to supply a Mega via the USB interface, where 500mA can be delivered. Consumers that require more than 20mA of current should be supplied via an external power supply unit. If you then also connect the GND of the external power supply unit or the external power supply units with the GND of the Mega (s), then they can also be controlled by the Mega as long as the external devices are also operated with 5V.

At higher voltages (e.g. 12V) this side can then be controlled via 5V relays.

5V servos, e.g. 100mA current can be supplied with an external power supply unit. When the GND is connected, these servos can also be supplied with power via the output of the Mega I hope this information helps you further.

makes sense!, thanks,

Considering I only have 2 servos to power ill use the board power and try it out!.

thanks, Steve