Hi,
we built the mBot and now we will develop an test software.
Question: Do I have to turn off the power on the battery before I connect the bot via USB to the PC?
Or ist it allowed to be connected simultaneously?
Many thanks gjb
Mbot power supply USB and batteries simultaneously?
Lentil
#2
As far as “allowed”, I’m not sure, but I will say I operate that way all the time. The USB will not charge the batteries. The USB source doesn’t seem to be powerful enough to run all the systems at once (e.g., drive motors and a servo motor). The result is that the batteries will continue to discharge, and at some point, the mBot becomes somewhat erratic. It will boot and run some systems from USB, but brown out when others are used. I’ve learned to associate this with changing out the batteries for new ones.
lelap
#3
Do NOT power mBot from bateries and USB simultaniously!
Based on my experiencess powering mBot with to sources will short circuit the batteries.
(I actually saw a puff of smoke comming out from battery pack!)
Actually, I use a LiPo battery pack and the mBot will charge it. It will not charge batteries in the battery holder provided with the kit though. My experience is that I power on the mBot before plugging in the USB cable because I’ve noticed that sometimes turning the power on while it is connected causes the operating system to reboot. 
Lentil
#5
Yes, I should have been more specific. I use batteries in the battery holder. There is a separate connector for LiPo batteries.
tech_support
#6
@gjb do not turn off , actually you must turn on the power switch when you programming it via USB.only that you can find
the "connect port " in your IDE(mBlock / Arduino IDE)