Basic Operation; Powering The Mx3; Dc Input Jack; Mocobus Connector - Dynamic Perception MX3 User Manual

3. Basic Operation

The MX3 user interface consists of a 2x16 LCD display and five user input buttons. Upon
startup, the firmware version will be reported before going to the main control screens.

3.1. Powering the MX3

The MX3 can accept several different power sources. The primary sources for power are the
DC input jack, the USB connector, and the MoCoBus port. For typical use-cases, you will likely
use the DC input jack.

3.1.1. DC Input Jack

The DC input jack is the primary power source for most motion control operations. This is the
only power source that will let you run the DC motor drivers. You can connect a battery, or AC
adapter using a 2.0mm DC barrel connector.
The DC input jack accepts a wide range of voltages, from 8VDC to 24VDC. Whatever voltage is
provided via the DC input jack is the voltage the motors will be run at.
Do not supply more voltage via the DC input jack than your motors can handle. This
will result in permanent damage to your motors. Check the rating on your motors
before connecting them and verify they can support the supply voltage you ar
providing.
Do not attach two motors with different voltage requirements at the same time. The
MX3 can provide only a single output voltage to all motors.

3.1.2. MoCoBus Connector

The MX3 can be powered via MoCoBus when running as a MoCoBus controller. The motor
drivers will be disabled when the only power source is the MoCoBus connector, as MoCoBus
cannot provide enough power to run DC motors. You may connect the DC input jack and the
MoCoBus connector at the same time as long as they are running at the same voltage.
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