ActuatorsServo
360° Continuous Rotation Servo
Modified servo that spins continuously like a geared motor.
Wiring & code for
Continuous Servo practical reference
A servo modified for full continuous rotation rather than fixed-angle positioning, useful as a simple speed-controlled wheel drive.
Key specifications
- Operating voltage: 4.8V - 6V DC (5V typical)
- Control signal: PWM, 50Hz, 1ms-2ms pulse width — but the pulse now sets speed and direction, not angle
- Neutral point: ~1.5ms pulse = stopped; shorter/longer pulses spin one way or the other, further from 1.5ms = faster
- Positioning: None — fully open-loop, no feedback on shaft angle, only continuous rotation
- Typical no-load speed: ~50-60 RPM, varies by donor servo and how it was modified
- Weight: ~9g-55g depending on donor servo (SG90-based vs MG996R-based)
Pinout and connection notes
Every unit's stop point drifts slightly from the textbook 1.5ms. Sweep 1.3ms-1.7ms in code once and hard-code the value that actually stops your specific servo.
- GND: Ground — usually the brown or black wire
- VCC: Power, 4.8V-6V DC — usually the red wire
- Signal: PWM control input — usually the orange or yellow wire
Integration checklist
- Confirm the exact part number and breakout-board revision.
- Verify supply voltage, current demand, logic levels, and signal direction against the datasheet.
- Check controller pin assignments and bus address or interface mode against the example code.
- Power up with external loads disconnected, then test signals before full integration.
- If readings or communication fail, check power and ground first, then pin mapping, interface settings, and library initialization.
Troubleshooting and reproducibility
Record the board used, wiring, library/version, supply arrangement, and measured behavior. Use the selected board-specific wiring example as the source of truth. Never assume visually similar modules share identical voltage tolerance or pin order.