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Published2025-10-15
This guide dives deep into the Arduino Servo Motor Pinout, explaining its key components, how to wire a servo motor to an Arduino board, and how to control it using code. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced maker, this article will provide you with valuable insights to get your servo motors working seamlessly with Arduino.
Arduino, Servo Motor Pinout, Servo Motor Wiring, Arduino Servo Control, How to use Servo Motors with Arduino, Arduino Projects, Arduino Servo Motor Tutorial.
The Basics of Servo Motors and Understanding Arduino Servo Motor Pinout
Servo motors are essential components in many robotics, automation, and control systems. They offer precise movement control, making them a staple for projects where accurate positioning is required. In this first part, we will explore the Arduino servo motor pinout, helping you understand how to wire and use a servo motor effectively.
A servo motor is a small but powerful device that rotates to a specific angle. It’s often used in robotics, RC vehicles, CNC machines, and automated systems. Unlike standard DC motors, which rotate continuously, a servo motor can rotate from 0° to 180° (in some cases, even more) and is controlled precisely using signals from a microcontroller like Arduino.
Servo motors typically come with three wires:
In an Arduino context, these wires will connect to specific pins on your Arduino board, which we will cover in detail.
The Arduino Servo Motor Pinout
When connecting a servo motor to your Arduino, it's essential to understand the correct pinout and wiring configuration. Typically, the servo motor has three wires:
Red (VCC): This wire provides power to the servo motor. It connects to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
Brown or Black (GND): The ground wire. It connects to one of the GND pins on the Arduino.
Orange or Yellow (PWM/Signal): This is the signal wire. It carries the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal that dictates the position of the motor. This wire connects to a PWM-capable pin on the Arduino, such as pin 9, 10, or 11.
Choosing the Right Pin for the Signal Wire
While the servo motor’s power and ground wires are pretty straightforward, the signal wire is where some attention to detail is needed. Arduino boards typically have specific pins that support PWM output (Pulse Width Modulation), which is used to control the position of the servo motor. These pins are usually marked with a tilde (~) symbol, indicating their PWM capabilities.
Arduino Pinout for Servo Motors
Here’s how to wire your servo motor to an Arduino Uno:
Red Wire (VCC): Connect to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
Black/Brown Wire (GND): Connect to any GND pin on the Arduino.
Orange/Yellow Wire (Signal): Connect to a PWM-enabled pin, such as pin 9.
Additional Power Considerations
Although Arduino boards can supply 5V through their pins, a servo motor may draw more current than the Arduino can provide. In this case, it’s advisable to power the servo motor separately with an external power supply. Ensure that the power supply matches the voltage requirements of your servo (usually 5V), and connect the ground of the power supply to the ground of the Arduino to maintain a common reference point.
PWM is a crucial part of how a servo motor works with Arduino. By varying the width of the pulse (the time the signal stays high), you can control the rotation angle of the servo motor. A 1.5 ms pulse usually corresponds to the 90° position of the motor, and adjusting the pulse width can rotate the motor from 0° to 180°.
How to Control a Servo Motor Using Arduino
Now that you have the basics of the Arduino servo motor pinout and wiring setup, let's take a look at how to control a servo motor with Arduino.
Step 1: Setting Up the Arduino IDE
To control a servo motor using Arduino, you need to set up your Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment). This software will allow you to write and upload code to the Arduino board.
Download and install the Arduino IDE if you haven’t done so already.
Launch the IDE and select the appropriate Arduino board model from the "Tools" menu.
Select the correct port under the "Tools" menu for your Arduino board.
Step 2: The Code for Controlling the Servo
Arduino’s built-in Servo library makes it extremely easy to control servo motors. Below is a simple example of how to write a program to control a servo motor:
#include // Include the Servo library
Servo myservo; // Create a Servo object to control the motor
myservo.attach(9); // Attach the servo to pin 9
myservo.write(0); // Rotate to 0 degrees
delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
myservo.write(90); // Rotate to 90 degrees
delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
myservo.write(180); // Rotate to 180 degrees
delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
#include : This line includes the Servo library, which allows you to easily control servo motors.
Servo myservo; This line creates an object named “myservo” that will represent the servo motor.
myservo.attach(9); This attaches the servo to pin 9, where the signal wire is connected.
myservo.write(0); This commands the servo to rotate to 0 degrees.
delay(1000); This introduces a 1-second pause before the servo moves to the next position.
The loop then rotates the servo to 90° and 180°, creating a simple back-and-forth motion.
Step 3: Testing and Tuning Your Servo Motor
After uploading the code to your Arduino, your servo motor should begin moving through the specified angles (0°, 90°, and 180°) in a repeating loop. If the servo motor does not behave as expected, here are a few things to check:
Check the wiring: Ensure that the VCC and GND wires are connected properly.
Check the servo type: Some servo motors have different range limits. For example, some may not rotate fully to 180°.
Power supply: If you notice your servo not responding correctly or jittering, it may not be receiving enough power. Ensure that your power supply is adequate.
Step 4: Expanding the Project
Once you've mastered the basics of servo control, you can expand your project by adding more servos or integrating sensors for automated control. For example, you could use a potentiometer to adjust the servo's position based on user input or use ultrasonic sensors to position the servo depending on distance.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Servo is jittering: This can happen if there is not enough power supplied to the servo motor. Consider using an external power source.
Servo doesn’t move: Double-check the wiring and make sure the PWM pin is correctly configured in the code.
Servo only rotates partially: Some servos have a limited range. Verify the specifications of your servo motor.
By following these steps and understanding the Arduino servo motor pinout, you now have a solid foundation for controlling servo motors in your Arduino projects. Whether you are building a robotic arm, a camera pan-tilt system, or a model airplane, mastering the basics of servo control will open the door to countless creative possibilities!
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Update：2025-10-15
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