TowerPro SG90 360 Degree Continuous Rotation Servo Motor 9g (Plastic Gear)

Specifications

• Rotation Type: Continuous 360° (Speed and Direction control, NO position control).

• Operating Voltage: 4.8V to 6.0V DC.

• Stall Torque: 1.3 kg-cm (at 4.8V) / 1.6 kg-cm (at 6.0V).

• Operating Speed: ~110 RPM (at 4.8V) / ~130 RPM (at 6.0V).

• Gear Material: Nylon Composite (Plastic).

• Weight: 9g (Motor only).

• Dimensions: 22.2 x 11.8 x 31 mm.

• Control Signal: PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

  • 1.5ms (approx 90° value): Stop.

  • > 1.5ms: Rotate Forward (Speed increases with pulse width).

  • < 1.5ms: Rotate Backward (Speed increases with pulse width).

• Cable Length: ~25 cm.

Key Applications & Projects

• Differential Drive Robots: Perfect for small "turtle" bots or line followers.

• Miniature Radar Systems: Spinning a sensor continuously to scan a room.

• Conveyor Belts: Low-load automated assembly lines for school projects.

• Winches & Hoists: winding mechanisms where rotation limits would be a hindrance.

 Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution)

• The Prerequisite: If you have mastered blinking an LED and moving a standard SG90 180° Servo to wave a flag, you are ready for this.

• The Upgrade: This motor unlocks Mobility. You can now put your Arduino on wheels! Unlike standard DC motors, you don't need to learn about L293D or L298N drivers yet; you can drive this directly with your servo code logic.

• Effort Level: Beginner.

  • Hardware: Arduino UNO + Jumper Wires. (No external driver needed for single unit testing, though external power is recommended for full robots).

 Virtual Technician: Wiring & Safety

Pinout Guide:

• Brown: Ground (GND) - Connect to Battery (-) or Controller GND.

• Red: VCC (+) - Connect to 5V (Ideally external 5V source, 1A min).

• Orange: Signal (PWM) - Connect to Digital PWM pin (e.g., Pin 9).

⚠️ Critical Warnings:

1. Do NOT try to set angles: Sending servo.write(45) will not move it to 45 degrees. It will make it spin at full speed in one direction.

2. Power Supply: While one servo might run off USB power, two will reset your Arduino. Always use a 4xAA battery pack or a dedicated 5V buck converter for mobile robots.

3. Zero Point Calibration: If the motor creeps (moves slowly) when you write 90 or 1500us, adjust the value slightly (e.g., 89 or 91) in your code until it stops completely.

Accessories

Included in Box:

• 1x SG90 360° Servo Motor.

• 3x Servo Arms (Horns) - Single, Double, and Cross types.

• 3x Mounting Screws.

Required / Recommended (Sold Separately):

• Mini Robot Wheels: Specific wheels designed to press-fit onto SG90 splines.

• External Power Source: 5V 2A Power Supply or Li-Ion Battery Holder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I control the exact angle of this motor? No, this is a continuous rotation servo. It controls speed and direction, not position. For angle control, buy the Standard SG90.

2. Why is my motor spinning when I tell it to stop? The "stop" pulse might not be exactly 1500ms for every unit. Try adjusting your code to 1490 or 1510, or use the trimmer potentiometer on the bottom (if accessible) to calibrate.

3. How do I make it go full speed? In Arduino Servo.h: myservo.write(0) is max speed one way, myservo.write(180) is max speed the other way.

4. Can I use this for a robotic arm? Generally no. Robotic arms need position hold. This motor is better for wheels or propellers.

5. Does this need a motor driver like L298N? No, the driver circuitry is built-in. You just need a PWM signal.

6. Can I run this on a 3.7V LiPo battery directly? It will run, but it will be slow and have low torque. 5V-6V is recommended.

7. Is the gear metal or plastic? This SG90 version uses Nylon (plastic) gears. For Metal gears, search for "MG90S 360".

8. What is the maximum weight this can move? It has a torque of ~1.5kg-cm. It can drive a robot weighing up to ~300-400g effectively.

9. Why does the motor get hot? If you stall the motor (hold the wheel stopped while it tries to turn), the internal circuit heats up and may burn.

10. Is it waterproof? No, the SG90 is not waterproof.

11. Can I use the standard Servo library in Arduino? Yes, the standard Servo.h library works perfectly.

12. What happens if I connect it to 12V? It will burn instantly. Maximum voltage is 6V.

13. Do the standard SG90 horns fit this? Yes, the output spline is identical to standard SG90s.

14. How do I attach a wheel? You can screw a servo horn into a custom wheel, or buy "Servo Wheels" that fit directly.

15. Is this compatible with Raspberry Pi? Yes, but you need a 5V power source for the Red wire; the Pi's GPIO connects to Orange.

16. Why is this more expensive than the standard SG90? It requires a different potentiometer setup and calibration during manufacturing.

17. Can I modify a standard SG90 to do this? Yes, but it requires opening the motor, cutting plastic stops, and soldering resistors. This factory-made version is more reliable.

18. What is the PWM frequency? Standard 50Hz.

19. Does it hold its position when power is off? No, the shaft spins freely when powered down.

20. Can I use this with an ESP32? Yes, the logic signal (Orange wire) works fine with 3.3V logic from an ESP32.