<p>PSU is only feeding 12 V into RAMPS, but (if I remember correctly) RAMPS is using Arduino's onboard regulator for converting 12 V to 5 V. That regulator can not provide much power.</p>
<p>If you connect some significant load to any 5 V pin (like servo, LCD backlight, or BLTouch), the regulator will be overloaded and its output voltage will drop (too low or unstable voltage will prevent Arduino from running correctly).</p>
<p>You can prove this hypothesis by measuring the voltage on any 5 V pin when Arduino is in &quot;infinite restart&quot;. It will likely be far below 5 V.</p>
<p>Connecting USB helps because it provides additional power for 5 V rail (but you may be overloading the computer's USB port by doing this).</p>
<p>The solution is to get an external 12 V to 5 V regulator (with enough power, something like 3 A should be ok) and connect it between PSU and some 5 V pin on RAMPS. (Or get PSU that has both 12 V and 5 V output)</p>
<p>If you get an external 5 V supply, it may be a good idea to then completely disconnect RAMPS from Arduino's 5 V regulator. Have a look at <a href="https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,799595" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,799595</a></p>
<p>Also, the regulator on the Arduino board will likely be overheating and may get damaged (But regulators usually have some overcurrent protection so it probably will be OK)</p>
<p>The regulator is located somewhere near the power connector on the Arduino Mega board, Google &quot;AMS1117&quot; if you don't know how it looks. Replacement is possible with intermediate soldering skills. The regulator is only used when powering Arduino from power connector or Vin pin (RAMPS uses the Vin pin). If powered from USB or 5 V pin, it can run without it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-17T17:45:50.943Z
2021-04-18T15:32:53.030Z
2021-04-18T15:32:53.030Z
Jiří Maier
<p>My printer uses an ATMega 2560 with a RAMPS 1.4 shield, A4988 stepper drivers and a 2004 controller LCD interface. The PSU is 360 W (12 V, 30 A).</p>
<p>I bought a BLTouch for my printer, but when installing, Marlin is restarting and is unable to complete the boot.</p>
<p>I realized that this problem happens when it is being powered only by the PSU. When it is started by USB, it works normally.</p>
<p>Note, the USB + PSU combination, when the system (Marlin) has been started by USB, also works normally.</p>
<p>I tried to configure the servo in other positions (0, 1, 2 or 3), but the results were the same:</p>
<ul>
<li>USB starts = Ok</li>
<li>PSU starts = infinite restart</li>
</ul>
<p>Another possibility that I tested, was to change the BLTouch for a SG90 micro servo, to check if it was not a problem in the equipment. The result was the same:</p>
<ul>
<li>USB starts = Ok</li>
<li>PSU starts = infinite restart</li>
</ul>
<p>In fact there seems to be some problem between ATMega 2560 and the RAMPS 1.4, when powered by the PSU.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how to solve the problem?
In the last case, would the exchange of ATMega 2560 + RAMPS 1.4 be the solution?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-15T06:28:00.353Z
Intriguing... Just to clarify: If *neither* the BLTouch *nor* the servo are connected, does the same issue occur? If so, then those variables can be eliminated. If not, then the issue would seem to relate to something connected to the board's servo output. Do you have either a spare Mega 2560 and/or a RAMPS to swap them *one at a time* to see where the fault may lie? Just a random thought, *maybe* the system only works when the USB is connected because the additional current (1 or 2 A) provided by the USB "makes it work" - that is to say, *maybe* the PSU alone isn't sufficient? Seems unlikely.
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-15T06:44:10.150Z
In addition, there seems to be a bit of confusing information: You state that PSU alone causes the issue but when USB is connected, it doesn't. You *then* go on to state that PSU+USB doesn't suffer the issue either. From which, one would infer that in the second case, that the printer is not powered by the PSU *at all*, and it powered by USB alone, which would seem to be impossible (unless you are referring to the Mega/RAMPS alone). In which case, it would seem that the PSU is at fault and not supplying the rated 30 A, nor even a fraction of that (which is what the Mega/RAMPS would require).
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-22T12:07:27.987Z
Yes, it's pretty confusing how it works. In the case of the PSU + USB working when the system (ramps + arduido) is started by USB, and later connecting the PSU to the rest of the system. If the system is directly connected by the PSU, it only starts when I add the USB. There really is a voltage drop, as mentioned by @Jiří Maier. I measured this drop
wbrrtt
<marlin><bed-leveling><ramps-1.4><bltouch>
Marlin is restarting when pins 5 Vcc are enabled and has a servo motor connected (RAMPS 1.4)
wbrrtt
# Marlin is restarting when pins 5 Vcc are enabled and has a servo motor connected (RAMPS 1.4)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-11)

My printer uses an ATMega 2560 with a RAMPS 1.4 shield, A4988 stepper drivers and a 2004 controller LCD interface. The PSU is 360 W (12 V, 30 A).

I bought a BLTouch for my printer, but when installing, Marlin is restarting and is unable to complete the boot.

I realized that this problem happens when it is being powered only by the PSU. When it is started by USB, it works normally.

Note, the USB + PSU combination, when the system (Marlin) has been started by USB, also works normally.

I tried to configure the servo in other positions (0, 1, 2 or 3), but the results were the same:

* USB starts = Ok
* PSU starts = infinite restart

Another possibility that I tested, was to change the BLTouch for a SG90 micro servo, to check if it was not a problem in the equipment. The result was the same:

* USB starts = Ok
* PSU starts = infinite restart

In fact there seems to be some problem between ATMega 2560 and the RAMPS 1.4, when powered by the PSU.

Does anyone know how to solve the problem?
In the last case, would the exchange of ATMega 2560 + RAMPS 1.4 be the solution?

**Tags:** marlin, bed-leveling, ramps-1.4, bltouch
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Intriguing... Just to clarify: If *neither* the BLTouch *nor* the servo are connected, does the same issue occur? If so, then those variables can be eliminated. If not, then the issue would seem to relate to something connected to the board's servo output. Do you have either a spare Mega 2560 and/or a RAMPS to swap them *one at a time* to see where the fault may lie? Just a random thought, *maybe* the system only works when the USB is connected because the additional current (1 or 2 A) provided by the USB "makes it work" - that is to say, *maybe* the PSU alone isn't sufficient? Seems unlikely.  
> **username_1**: In addition, there seems to be a bit of confusing information: You state that PSU alone causes the issue but when USB is connected, it doesn't. You *then* go on to state that PSU+USB doesn't suffer the issue either. From which, one would infer that in the second case, that the printer is not powered by the PSU *at all*, and it powered by USB alone, which would seem to be impossible (unless you are referring to the Mega/RAMPS alone). In which case, it would seem that the PSU is at fault and not supplying the rated 30 A, nor even a fraction of that (which is what the Mega/RAMPS would require).  
> **username_0**: Yes, it's pretty confusing how it works. In the case of the PSU + USB working when the system (ramps + arduido) is started by USB, and later connecting the PSU to the rest of the system. If the system is directly connected by the PSU, it only starts when I add the USB. There really is a voltage drop, as mentioned by @Jiří Maier. I measured this drop  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

PSU is only feeding 12 V into RAMPS, but (if I remember correctly) RAMPS is using Arduino's onboard regulator for converting 12 V to 5 V. That regulator can not provide much power.

If you connect some significant load to any 5 V pin (like servo, LCD backlight, or BLTouch), the regulator will be overloaded and its output voltage will drop (too low or unstable voltage will prevent Arduino from running correctly).

You can prove this hypothesis by measuring the voltage on any 5 V pin when Arduino is in "infinite restart". It will likely be far below 5 V.

Connecting USB helps because it provides additional power for 5 V rail (but you may be overloading the computer's USB port by doing this).

The solution is to get an external 12 V to 5 V regulator (with enough power, something like 3 A should be ok) and connect it between PSU and some 5 V pin on RAMPS. (Or get PSU that has both 12 V and 5 V output)

If you get an external 5 V supply, it may be a good idea to then completely disconnect RAMPS from Arduino's 5 V regulator. Have a look at <https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?219,799595>

Also, the regulator on the Arduino board will likely be overheating and may get damaged (But regulators usually have some overcurrent protection so it probably will be OK)

The regulator is located somewhere near the power connector on the Arduino Mega board, Google "AMS1117" if you don't know how it looks. Replacement is possible with intermediate soldering skills. The regulator is only used when powering Arduino from power connector or Vin pin (RAMPS uses the Vin pin). If powered from USB or 5 V pin, it can run without it.


---

