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My servo is classic SG90. I connected +5V and gnd correctly to a dc power supply. Then I connected output of a signal generator which generates 0-5 V pulses at 50Hz (checked by oscilloscope).

I know that the duty cycle determines the position of a servo motor. I can vary the duty cycle between %20 and %80 from the settings of the signal generator and I can observe that pulse is changing accordingly via the oscilloscope. However, servo does not responds. What am I missing?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Is the GND of the signal generator connected to the GND of the servo? \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael Karas
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 12:47
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    \$\begingroup\$ THe servo specs indicate 1 ~2ms which is 5 to 10% at 5V , otherwise 0V for PWM with 20ms cycle =50Hz \$\endgroup\$
    – Tony Stewart EE75
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 12:55
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelKaras yes all gnd's are common at one point. \$\endgroup\$
    – muyustan
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 12:58
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    \$\begingroup\$ RC servos use the time of the pulse width, not the duty cycle (ratio between on timeand period). The valid range is 1ms to 2 ms for a high pulse with 1.5ms being the center. They dont care about actual frequency too much as long as they get a high pulse often enough so that they do not "forget" their position. \$\endgroup\$
    – DKNguyen
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:09
  • \$\begingroup\$ @DKNguyen so you say that 250 Hz %25 to %50 duty cycle will do the job? \$\endgroup\$
    – muyustan
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 14:27

1 Answer 1

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Based on your question, your PWM may be way too high. A typical hobby servo might need a signal at 50-60 Hz. Let's take 50Hz as an example. That means that every 0.020 second, it might need a pulse around 1.5ms (0.0015s) to seek "center" position. So, that equates to about 7% duty cycle. Try a lower PWM range to get pulses of 0.0010s to 0.0020s at 50Hz.

And as the comment suggests, the GND connections must be common.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Don't any of the duty cycle values between 20 and 80 correspond any position? \$\endgroup\$
    – muyustan
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ No, they don't. That's way out of spec for the servo. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dave Tweed
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:01
  • \$\begingroup\$ @DaveTweed thanks, it was my silliness, now I checked the specs and you are right even 4 ms(%20 dutycycle) was greater than 180° position. So is there any way that I can get valid duration of pulses considering my signal generator does not allow between 0-20 and 80-100 duty cycles. \$\endgroup\$
    – muyustan
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:04
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    \$\begingroup\$ There are many examples of 555-based and MCU-based test circuits for servos on the Web. This is also something that an Arduino can easily do for you. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dave Tweed
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:06
  • \$\begingroup\$ @DaveTweed yes microcontroller is a nice and realistic solution, just dont have one available at now and just doing some trials not a big concern. But when it didnt work I just wondered why. Thanks again. \$\endgroup\$
    – muyustan
    Commented Oct 9, 2019 at 13:08

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