My Arduino is heating up

Question

I am working on a simple Arduino project where I am controlling 5 TowerPro servos. I read that each takes up 2.2 V each so that means the Arduino can only handle about 2 , if using 5V. So far Ive connected 4 with no issues but when I added the 5th the whole thing stopped and the 5V regulator was really hot. That means I don't have enough power and the Arduino is just having a hard time giving not enought volts for all five servos. I just don't know what to do now. Ive tried adding 3 3V battery packs instead of the Arduino but it was smoking. Is there another way to provide the right amount of power for 5 servos without breaking or burning anything!

Answer 1

The voltage regulator on the Arduino is designed to power the logic circuits, and perhaps a few LEDs and other digital devices. It is not designed to power 5 motors.

You haven't specified what current they draw - that is the important question, not the voltage.

As the comments under your question have said, you need to power the motors separately from the Arduino, not through it. However, connect the ground wires, and use the Arduino to control the signal wire to the servos.

The graphic below shows the general idea. For 5 servos even those batteries are probably not enough.

Notice that the power for the motor does not go through the Arduino.