Hi folks, I haven’t really posted to this forum but I have been using the micro maestro for a couple of years in a Halloween display. I have two and they each run a 3 Axis head, which have three MG996R servos. They are powered by a computer power supply. The routines where tested in the garage during August and worked perfectly. The cps also powers approximately 3.5 amps of additional hardware, split between the 5V and 12V rails. The problem is, the micro maestros’ are showing a red light (obviously an error) and none of the servos are moving. Ambient temperature has been hovering around the freezing mark. Last year i ran only one 3 axis head off the power supply, using the micro and had no problems. However, it was significantly warmer last year. Could it be cold ambient temp that is affecting the hardware?
Hello.
I am sorry you are having trouble with your Maestros. I think the cold is unlikely to be the problem; the main chip on the Maestro can operate down to -40 degrees C. Could you connect a Maestro to USB, run the Maestro Control Center, and let us know what errors are showing up in the Errors tab? Also, please save a settings file and send it to us. This should help us figure out what is going wrong.
There could be a problem with your power supply that is causing the voltage to dip whenever the Maestro drives any servos. If that is the case, just plugging the Maestro into USB might solve the problem. You could try adding a two second delay at the very beginning of your script and see if that changes anything.
Also, are you sure the red LED was off back when you were testing in August?
–David
I plugged in each micro m via usb,consecutively. When the micro is connected via usb, it operates as intended, although there is a yellow light that flashes twice, which was not there on my other tests. Also, no error codes are shown. Upon disconnecting the usb, the micro quits functioning as intended (although there are some jerks or ticks from one of the witches). Each of the micro’s flash a quick double flash of yellow followed by four red flashes, then repeats.
Here is the code for the firts witch
# Witch
begin
2500 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 0 frame_0..5 # Frame 0
2500 7686 7862 7862 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 1
2500 7765 4026 4026 frame_2..4 # Frame 2
2500 4711 4731 4613 7960 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 3
2500 7236 3968 3987 frame_1_3_4 # Frame 4
2500 7588 5259 7667 7980 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 5
2500 4555 3968 3968 frame_2..4 # Frame 6
2500 5083 7217 8000 7941 frame_0_1_3_4 # Frame 7
2500 6179 6864 3968 3968 frame_1..4 # Frame 8
2500 6903 4476 5298 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 9
2500 3987 3968 frame_3_4 # Frame 10
2500 4653 5964 7902 8000 7902 frame_0..4 # Frame 11
2500 6590 7412 5494 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 12
2500 4124 8000 8000 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 13
2500 7882 frame_0 # Frame 14
2500 5846 4711 7119 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 15
2500 4966 5905 4829 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 16
2500 6943 7001 7451 3968 4124 frame_0..4 # Frame 17
2500 6042 5298 7902 8000 frame_1..4 # Frame 18
2500 4183 7882 3968 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 19
2500 6023 8000 8000 frame_2..4 # Frame 20
2500 8000 5690 3968 3968 frame_0_1_3_4 # Frame 21
2500 5944 8000 8000 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 22
2500 7941 frame_2 # Frame 23
2500 4711 6982 6492 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 24
2500 8000 8000 frame_3_4 # Frame 25
2500 7040 6062 7256 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 26
2500 4574 6571 8000 7921 frame_0_2..4 # Frame 27
2500 4300 4124 3968 frame_1_3_4 # Frame 28
2500 6258 6003 5181 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 29
2500 6884 6825 6492 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 30
2500 4555 5318 8000 8000 frame_0_1_3_4 # Frame 31
2500 4711 3968 3968 frame_2..4 # Frame 32
2500 7451 6982 8000 8000 frame_0_1_3_4 # Frame 33
2500 6238 3968 3968 frame_2..4 # Frame 34
2500 6806 4829 7980 8000 frame_0_1_3_4 # Frame 35
2500 4633 5886 7021 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 36
2500 7080 7980 7941 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 37
2500 4418 4848 4790 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 38
2500 7510 8000 8000 frame_2..4 # Frame 39
2500 7373 6316 6003 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 40
2500 7569 4613 frame_0_2 # Frame 41
2500 5553 4672 6629 8000 7843 frame_0..4 # Frame 42
2500 6336 6825 7549 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 43
2500 5846 7941 8000 frame_2..4 # Frame 44
2500 3968 frame_0 # Frame 45
2500 7510 3968 3968 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 46
2500 4105 8000 8000 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 47
2500 6825 5279 7021 4026 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 48
2500 4379 8000 8000 frame_2..4 # Frame 49
2500 7686 3968 3968 frame_2..4 # Frame 50
2500 5220 6708 5416 frame_0..2 # Frame 51
2500 7119 5064 7021 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 52
2500 5220 6473 5377 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 53
2500 4124 frame_1 # Frame 54
2500 7960 8000 8000 frame_1_3_4 # Frame 55
2500 6688 5886 6297 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 56
2500 7588 5122 4868 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 57
2500 3968 3968 frame_3_4 # Frame 58
2500 5572 6649 5670 8000 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 59
2500 7080 5533 6884 4046 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 60
2500 5416 6629 5377 7941 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 61
2500 6845 5161 6884 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 62
2500 7099 5455 8000 8000 frame_1..4 # Frame 63
2500 4809 3968 3968 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 64
2500 6473 5788 7040 7902 8000 frame_0..4 # Frame 65
2500 7177 6629 7588 3968 3968 frame_0..4 # Frame 66
2500 4339 8000 8000 frame_0_3_4 # Frame 67
repeat
sub frame_0..5
5 servo
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_3_4
4 servo
3 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_2..4
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0..4
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_1_3_4
4 servo
3 servo
1 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_1_3_4
4 servo
3 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_1..4
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
1 servo
delay
return
sub frame_3_4
4 servo
3 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_2
2 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_2..4
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_2
2 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0..2
2 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_1
1 servo
delay
return
and for the second witch
# Gertie Complete 2
begin
3000 6000 6000 6000 0 0 0 frame_0..5 # Frame 0
3000 7040 5044 frame_0_1 # Frame 1
3000 7451 frame_1 # Frame 2
5000 5631 6042 8000 frame_0..2 # Frame 3
7000 4692 4672 frame_1_2 # Frame 4
5000 delay # Frame 5
5000 7138 5944 5984 frame_0..2 # Frame 6
9000 4242 frame_2 # Frame 7
5000 8000 frame_2 # Frame 8
9000 3968 frame_2 # Frame 9
4000 5220 3987 frame_0_2 # Frame 10
5000 7177 6414 frame_1_2 # Frame 11
4000 5788 4613 7882 frame_0..2 # Frame 12
4000 delay # Frame 13
8000 7471 frame_1 # Frame 14
4000 7256 frame_0 # Frame 15
4000 6003 frame_2 # Frame 16
3000 4379 frame_1 # Frame 17
4000 7197 frame_1 # Frame 18
7000 5416 6101 4222 frame_0..2 # Frame 19
2000 6864 frame_0 # Frame 20
2000 5435 frame_0 # Frame 21
6000 8000 8000 frame_1_2 # Frame 22
5000 6727 frame_0 # Frame 23
3000 5377 frame_0 # Frame 24
5000 3968 4065 frame_1_2 # Frame 25
5000 6003 5964 frame_1_2 # Frame 26
3000 7138 frame_0 # Frame 27
3000 4124 frame_1 # Frame 28
3000 8000 frame_1 # Frame 29
5000 5866 6336 7902 frame_0..2 # Frame 30
2000 6982 frame_0 # Frame 31
2000 5631 frame_0 # Frame 32
5000 5044 5886 frame_1_2 # Frame 33
5000 7256 frame_0 # Frame 34
3500 7138 7236 frame_1_2 # Frame 35
6500 4809 4770 frame_1_2 # Frame 36
8500 4927 frame_0 # Frame 37
4500 7001 6042 frame_1_2 # Frame 38
4500 7099 5122 frame_0_1 # Frame 39
3000 7471 6943 frame_1_2 # Frame 40
3000 5377 5298 frame_1_2 # Frame 41
8000 5612 6062 frame_0_1 # Frame 42
8000 4046 7862 frame_1_2 # Frame 43
7500 7941 frame_1 # Frame 44
6000 4300 frame_1 # Frame 45
5000 7197 frame_0 # Frame 46
5000 7941 3968 frame_1_2 # Frame 47
5000 5475 6649 5259 frame_0..2 # Frame 48
2000 7001 5357 frame_0_1 # Frame 49
2000 5240 frame_0 # Frame 50
6000 delay # Frame 51
7000 4300 frame_1 # Frame 52
5000 7471 frame_1 # Frame 53
3500 6786 frame_0 # Frame 54
3500 5240 frame_0 # Frame 55
7500 7334 4770 5984 frame_0..2 # Frame 56
7500 7432 4966 frame_1_2 # Frame 57
8000 5220 5259 7471 frame_0..2 # Frame 58
4500 6688 4320 frame_1_2 # Frame 59
6000 5984 5631 8000 frame_0..2 # Frame 60
4500 6258 7667 frame_0_1 # Frame 61
5500 5259 frame_0 # Frame 62
5500 6806 6062 4790 frame_0..2 # Frame 63
5500 4046 frame_1 # Frame 64
5500 7393 frame_1 # Frame 65
5500 4379 7725 frame_1_2 # Frame 66
5500 7843 frame_1 # Frame 67
7500 5651 4359 frame_0_1 # Frame 68
8500 7393 frame_1 # Frame 69
8500 6551 4379 frame_0_1 # Frame 70
8500 5377 6453 4927 frame_0..2 # Frame 71
8500 4085 5925 frame_1_2 # Frame 72
8500 6747 6884 frame_0_1 # Frame 73
8500 4574 7706 frame_1_2 # Frame 74
8500 5455 6081 6023 frame_0..2 # Frame 75
8500 7706 frame_0 # Frame 76
8500 3968 frame_2 # Frame 77
8500 3968 frame_1 # Frame 78
8500 6355 7647 frame_1_2 # Frame 79
8500 6081 6982 frame_0_2 # Frame 80
8500 5338 4476 frame_0_2 # Frame 81
repeat
sub frame_0..5
5 servo
4 servo
3 servo
2 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_1
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_1
1 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0..2
2 servo
1 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_1_2
2 servo
1 servo
delay
return
sub frame_2
2 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0_2
2 servo
0 servo
delay
return
sub frame_0
0 servo
delay
return
Please note that I did not write this script. I used the sliders and saved over frames. I do program picaxe chips, but have only been tinkering with them for a couples of years.
As for the CPS, the rating states it is +5V, 35 A and +12V, 15 A. Not sure if I have a problem with the CPS. I have another that i could use to run one of the micros/servos.
Also, the “Nerve Center” for the two witches, which contains the CPS, two Scary Terry Audio Drivers, and a project board with four Tenda mp3 modules, is on the ground, and approximately 6’ cable (in 30cm lengths, linked together) is delivering power to the micros/servos.
Any help on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated. It is the countdown to Halloween and this coven is the center piece of my whole haunt.
The length of your 6-foot power cable is likely to be the problem. Long cables have a higher inductance, which means that when you suddenly try to draw more current from them, the voltage will drop. If you could use a shorter or thicker cable, or add a capacitor to the power lines near the Maestro, it would help.
The first line of your script turns on all the servos and if that event causes the voltage to drop too low, it could make the Maestro reset.
You could probably get your witches running for Halloween if you just supply power to the USB port on each of the Maestros. The first thing I would try is to add a powered USB hub to the system and connect each of the Maestros to that. It’s not a great solution, but you could get all the parts at a local consumer electronics store and try it out pretty quickly. Just make sure you get a powered USB hub; the kind that plugs into an mains outlet. I don’t know if USB powered hubs supply power to their USB ports when a computer isn’t present, so this might not work. If the Maestro is not near an outlet, you could look for a battery-based way of powering it (just the processor, not the servos).
How are you supplying power to the Maestro’s VIN line? Is it connected to the servo power rail? Do you have any battery packs that with 0.1"-spaced connectors like ours?
–David
Thanks David, that gives me a place to start. I will try a couple of things. I will shorten the leads and see if that helps. What size of capacitor should I use? I am powering the maestro and servos together, with the VIN connected to the servo power rail. Perhaps, powering the maestros seperately might alleviate some of the problems? I do not have any battery packs but I have a lot of 5V cell phone chargers, would these work? As far as the code goes, if it was a picaxe I would turn on each servo one at a time, and then have the main routine loop, using something like this
init:
high servo 1
pause 2000
high servo 2
pause 2000
high servo3
pause 2000
Do
(routine)
LoopHowever, I am not skilled enough in code writing to be able to write something like that into the maestro script.
Thanks again David! Halloween will be saved after all!!! 
The capacitor should be at least a few hundred microfarads (uF).
Yes, I recommend disconnecting VIN from the servo power rail if it’s easy, and powering the Maestro from the USB port something else like a phone charger (or battery pack). You said the problems went away when you connected the Maestro to USB, so I expect that this will work. You’ll probably have to enable the “Never suspend” option in the Maestro Control Center to prevent it from going into suspend mode when connected to the charger.
Yes, especially if they have a USB port.
That is another thing you could try. I’m pretty sure that the Maestro sequencer supports having frames where the servos are turned off, so your first frame could have all the servos off and then your second frame could turn one of them on, etc. Just uncheck the “Enabled” checkbox next to the servo while you are making your frame and look in the Channel Settings tab to make sure none of the servos are configured to automatically turn on at power up.
–David