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Bottango Docs

Servo Power Supply

Bottango Solar and Bottango Impulse both have a USB-C port and a DC barrel jack. The USB-C connection is used for communication with your computer and can be used to power the logic components.

On Bottango Solar, the DC input powers both the connected servos as well as the onboard audio amplifier.

On Bottango Impulse, the DC input powers the connected servos.

On Bottango Solar and Impulse, the DC power can also be used to power the logic components instead of requiring a USB connection.

Screenshot: Power Input

Standalone Power

Section titled “Standalone Power”

Bottango Solar and Bottango Impulse can use the DC input to power the board logic without relying on power over USB, such as when playing exported animations in standalone mode. This behavior is enabled by default on Bottango hardware. If you unplug USB from either board, but have an appropriate DC power input connected, the logic components will still be powered.

For more details on how this works, and how to enable or disable it, see Advanced Power Management in the advanced section.

Power Supply Requirements

Section titled “Power Supply Requirements”

You’ll need to provide a DC power supply that matches these requirements:

  • 5 V - 6 V DC output
  • Enough current for your servos (and audio hardware on Bottango Solar if using the onboard amp), while staying within the board’s 7 A maximum DC power rail rating.
  • 5.5 mm outer-diameter barrel plug
  • 2.1 mm inner-diameter barrel plug
  • Center-positive polarity

Power supplies that meet these requirements are easy to find on sites like Amazon. If you’re not sure what to look for, look for a well-reviewed 5 V / 5 A DC power supply and make sure the barrel plug and polarity match the requirements above. This is a very common connector form factor and output.

Here is an example 5 V, 5 A compatible power supply on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0egJPtT

Note that Bottango LLC is not the manufacturer, distributor, etc. of this linked example power supply, and is not affiliated with or endorsing this power supply or company. It’s only being provided as a reference for one example power supply with connector and output specifications that match the requirements.