How-To Tuesday: Arduino 101 potentiometers and servos

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This is the 3rd installment of my Aduino How-To Tuesdays. This week I am going to cover using another basic part, the potentiometer. I will also cover connecting a servo to the Arduino. Servos can be hard to control, but not with the Arduino! That's just another reason why I love this little micro-controller.

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[shuriken204tv]

what is the sheild you are using?

[robertlam18]

Is there a board that has the built in secondary power supply ? I know the ubotino can do this but seems it is not produced anymore.

[applyapology]

@steamisM50 These servos can indeed be modded to turn like a motor.

Do a search, I think the pot is removed

[ShaneNL69]

@steamisM50 Oh well, thank you for the intel :) I ordered my Arduino last week, and am waiting for it to arrive. Want to make a quadro-pet :D

[steamisM50]

@ShaneNL69 Also, in this example. he is turning the servo with a potentiometer, which cannot go more than 360 degrees (or for that matter, all the way to 360 degrees)

[steamisM50]

@ShaneNL69 Servos have limited rotation to them, so can only go from 0 to 90, some max out at 360, and some are unlimited spin servos. it depends on the servo for what you can do with them

[LCRAMBOR1]

more arduino vids please

[ShaneNL69]

Y U NO 360 TURN WITH SERVO! that is possible right ? Can you then continue if you make a 360 turn or is it limited to example max 360 degrees?

[desktopgeek98]

Don't you need a relay for the servo so that the board doesn't fry?

[therobomaker957]

@formulaformula1133 Yes and no. A trimpot is a variable resistor as well...it just doesn't have the pole to rotate. A trimpot is usually smaller as well. Also, you need a screwdriver to turn it. It usually is a bit less accurate as a potentiometer.