Weird servo behavior after attaching additional servos

Hello,
I am using maestro 24 servo controller, since today i have used it to drive 12 analog servo motors (Hitec HS-645MG), and it was ok, but i have upgraded my hexapod robot by adding addition DoF per leg . new servos are more powerful digital Hitec HS-5645MG. After connecting all 18 servos they started to behave odd. To contact with servos i am using UART at 115200 baudrate and i am using pololu protocol to write to all servos at once. When running code, servos more-or less follow the commands but they are sometimes making uncontrollable, weird motions. When i run 4 legs (12 servos, 8 analog, 4 digital) and set rest of servos to fixed neutral position, code is executed correctly. after attaching any more servos , all of the servos are acting badly.

Function used to send commands to maestro

 int maestroSet18Targets(int fd, unsigned short target0, unsigned short target1,
 								unsigned short target2, unsigned short target3,
 								unsigned short target4, unsigned short target5,
 								unsigned short target6, unsigned short target7,
 								unsigned short target8, unsigned short target9,
 								unsigned short target10, unsigned short target11,
 								unsigned short target12, unsigned short target13,
 								unsigned short target14, unsigned short target15,
 								unsigned short target16, unsigned short target17)
 {
 	target0 = SetAngle(target0); target1 = SetAngle(target1); target2 = SetAngle(target2);
 	target3 = SetAngle(target3); target4 = SetAngle(target4); target5 = SetAngle(target5);
 	target6 = SetAngle(target6); target7 = SetAngle(target7); target8 = SetAngle(target8);
 	target9 = SetAngle(target9); target10 = SetAngle(target10); target11 = SetAngle(target11);
 	target12 = SetAngle(target12); target13 = SetAngle(target13); target14 = SetAngle(target14);
 	target15 = SetAngle(target15); target16 = SetAngle(target16); target17 = SetAngle(target17);
 	unsigned char command[] = { 0xAA, 0xC, 0x1F, 0x12, 0, target0 & 0x7F, target0 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target1 & 0x7F, target1 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 							  			 target2 & 0x7F, target2 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target3 & 0x7F, target3 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target4 & 0x7F, target4 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target5 & 0x7F, target5 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target6 & 0x7F, target6 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target7 & 0x7F, target7 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target8 & 0x7F, target8 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target9 & 0x7F, target9 >> 7 & 0x7F ,
 										 target10 & 0x7F, target10 >> 7 & 0x7F, 
 										 target11 & 0x7F, target11 >> 7 & 0x7F, 
 										 target12 & 0x7F, target12 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target13 & 0x7F, target13 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target14 & 0x7F, target14 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target15 & 0x7F, target15 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target16 & 0x7F, target16 >> 7 & 0x7F,
 										 target17 & 0x7F, target17 >> 7 & 0x7F
                                                 };
 if (write(fd, command, sizeof(command)) == -1)
 	{
 		mvprintw(10, 10, "Maestro err wriring");
 		refresh();
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }

 int SetAngle(double angle)
 {
 	if (angle > 180 || angle < 0)
 		return 6000;
 	else
 	{
 		angle = angle / 180.0;
 		angle = angle * 1800.0 + 600.0;
 		angle = angle * 4;
 		return (int)angle;
 	}
 }

Most likely your power supply is inadequate. A good rule of thumb is to budget 1 ampere per servo, for as many as will be moving at the same time (and then add a few amperes for good measure).

Hello.

I agree with Jim; it sounds like a power issue from your description.

Considering that you are trying to power a lot of servos from the Maestro’s servo rail, which can handle about 6A, I recommend splitting the servo rail into separate banks or powering your servos separately. You can read more about separating your servos into banks in this post.

- Amanda

Servos are powered from 5V 9A, power supply, so you might be right, i will try connecting two of those power supplies , and update the post later today.

Thank you Amanda and Jim , after installing beefier power supply , all servos move correctly

Great! Thanks for letting us know that your issue is resolved.

- Amanda