Power System Plan: Models Come Alive! #4

Community Contributions
1

image (18)
image (18)1920×1446 252 KB

In Part 3, we learned how to find out the specifications of devices and power sources. We also discussed how to choose a power source with a matching output capacity.

This series has reached its fourth and final part. In this article, we will discuss these two topics.

  • Why is it important to consider the current limits of control and connection components?

  • How to choose suitable cables to connect all components?

Why is it important to consider the current limits of control and connection components?

To connect and control the devices, we need various components, such as potentiometers, power distribution boards, and CyberBrick receiver boards.

If the power source’s output exceeds what these components can handle, it may cause an overload or damage. Thus, when choosing control and connection components, we need to consider their current limits (see the image below) and the device’s current requirements.

1280×960 108 KB

Let’s check out one case together. We will see how to consider the current limits of both the control and connection components.

Current limit of control components

Now, let us understand and assess the current limit of each component.

  • N20 motor LA002 x 1 pcs

  • COB light strip KA009 (300mm each) x 3 pcs

  • Potentiometer IA007 x 1 pcs

  • 4-channel power distribution board IA005 x 1 pcs

The N20 motor may require 0.25A to 0.40A during high-power usage. A COB light strip (300mm long each) needs around 0.22A. The required current might hit 1.1A if regulating all lights and the motor’s rotational speed with a potentiometer IA007. But the current limit of the potentiometer IA007 is 0.4A.

If controlling all lights and the motor’s rotational speed by connecting a potentiometer IA007 to a distribution board IA005, excessive power usage may cause these risks.

  • Circuit protection may fail to trigger.

  • After increasing the voltage, the excess current may damage the transistor.

In this case, we can use separate potentiometers for the LED light strip and motor.

A potentiometer boosts the voltage through a transistor.

When the potentiometer limiter is set to its highest setting, the device voltage is a bit higher than when it is directly connected to a power source. When using a potentiometer IA007, consider calculating the required current for your device. Multiply 1.5 to factor in transistor efficiency and voltage overload. This helps ensure stable operation within its regulatory range.

For example, a COB light strip KA009 (300mm long each) requires 220mA at 5V. When using the potentiometer IA007to control the light strip, the current rises to 330 mA at 5V. This is calculated by multiplying 200 mA by 1.5.

Current limit of connection components

Some connection components support connecting more devices. For example, a 4-channel power distribution board IA005 and a CyberBrick receiver shield XA004.

When using these connection components, please keep their safe working current in mind. Stay under the current limit to avoid damage.

For example, you can connect a 4-channel power distribution board to a potentiometer, a motor, and COB light strips. The potentiometer controls the N20 motor’s rotational speed.

Let us calculate the total demanded current of these devices. The demanded currents for these devices are:

  • One N20 motor controlled by a potentiometer. Its required current is 0.37A - 0.6A. This is 1.5 times the 0.25A～0.4A range.

  • Three COB light strips KA009 (300mm each). Each COB strip requires 0.22A.

The total current demand is 1.03A - 1.26A. It exceeds the 4-channel power distribution board’s current limit of 1A. Thus, it may trigger the power distribution board’s current protection.

To lower the total current demand, we can either shorten the light strip or add another power distribution board.

Examples

We’ve summarised the control and connection components needed for these models using the methods above. Please see the table below for more details.

Retro Observatory - small desk setups

1280×960 503 KB

Source: 邦德不喝可乐, Retro Observatory, MakerWorld, 2025. Retrieved on Dec. 31, 2025, MakerWorld

This connection component is suitable for the function below.

Connection component: Rechargeable Power Kit-ZC003 Board x 1

Specification: 3.7V, 1A

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Turn the wall lamp on 4 White 3030-LED Board with SH1.0 Connector 5V-KB001 4 3.7V-6.0V 60mA (5V)
Total - 4 3.7V ＜240mA

360˚ Rotating Marble Run - Enclosed with Lights - big desk setups

20260205-163700

Source: MaKim, 360˚ Rotating Marble Run - Enclosed with Lights, MakerWorld, 2024. Retrieved on Dec. 31, 2025, MakerWorld

This connection component is suitable for the functions below.

Connection component: Power Distribution Board - 4 Channels-IA005 x 1

Specification: 3.7V-6V, 1A

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Turn the light post on COB LED Strip Light 300x1mm-KA009 1 3.7V-6.0V 20mA (5V)
Rotate and lift the balls N20 Single Shaft Worm Gear Motor 25rpm-LA008 1 3.0V-7.0V ＜0.16A (6V)
Total - 2 3.7V-6V 0.26A

This control component is suitable for the function below.

Control component: Potentiometer Board-IA007 x 1

Specification: 7.4V, 0.4A

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Rotate and lift the balls N20 Single Shaft Worm Gear Motor 25rpm-LA008 1 3.0V-7.0V ＜0.16A (6V)
Total - 1 3.7V-6V 0.26A

Formula Vintage - CyberBrick - CyberBrick RC car

1280×960 182 KB

Source: Kocyns, Formula Vintage - CyberBrick, MakerWorld, 2025. Retrieved on Dec. 31, 2025, MakerWorld

This connection component is suitable for the functions below.

Connection component: Remote Control Receiver Shield-XA004 x 1

Specification: 7.4V-12.6V, 3A max

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Remote control Multi-Function Controller Core-XA003 1 7.4V – 12.6V 300mA
Turn 9g Servo motor 180°-PG001 1 5V (XA004) 700mA
Go forward 030 Micro DC Motor with SH1.0-LA024 2 5V-9V 250mA
RGB tail light WS2812 RGB LED-KB003 2 5V (XA004) 36mA
Total - 6 7.4V-9V ～1.3A (7.4V)

Remote Controlled Water Turret - composite RC model

20260205-163705

Source: MaKim, Remote Controlled Water Turret, MakerWorld, 2025. Retrieved on Dec. 31, 2025, MakerWorld

This connection component is suitable for the functions below.

Connection component: Remote Control Receiver Shield-XA004 x 1

Specification: 7.4V-12.6V, 3A max

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Remote control Multi-Function Controller Core - XA003 1 7.4V – 12.6V 300mA
Adjust the water gun’s left/right movement 9g Servo motor 360°-PG002 1 5V (XA004) 550mA
Adjust the water gun’s up/down movement 9g Servo motor 180°-PG001 1 5V (XA004) 700mA
Press the trigger to shoot 9g Servo motor 180° - PG001 1 5V (XA004) 700mA
Status light WS2812 RGB LED-KB003 3 5V (XA004) 36mA
Total - 7 7.4V 1.7A
Shoot a water stream Electric Water Spray Kit 01-ZC004 1 7.4V 1A (average)、2.4A (peak current)

The function below does not require a connection component.

Function Device PCS Voltage Current
Shoot a water stream Electric Water Spray Kit 01-ZC004 1 7.4V 1A (average)、2.4A (peak current)

How to choose suitable cables to connect all components?

Once we’ve confirmed that each device’s current requirements are met, we now need to connect each interface with the matching cables (see the image below).

1280×960 142 KB

For example, the N20 series motor terminals and the channel ports on the 4-channel power distribution board use SH1.0 2P female connectors. To connect a N20 series motor to a 4-channel power distribution board IA005, you can use the SH1.0 2P male-to-male wire (IC004). It links the motor terminal to the channel port.

This wire comes with the N20 motor package.

If the ports at both ends are different, we need to connect with either an adapter cable or a board. In everyday life, you may use adapters to convert XH2.54 (wide plug) to PH2.0 (narrow voltage power). It is also common to connect PH2.0 power directly to SH1.0 devices.

Besides, the adapter board helps extend cables (see the image below). For example, the SH1.0 2P adapter board is ideal for a large model.

1280×960 151 KB

Please check the list below for connecting cables needed for common setups.

872×475 42.9 KB

889×413 36.3 KB

845×216 16.5 KB

Please check the product detail page for each electronic component or the instructions. It provides detailed instructions, connection guidelines, and examples.

In this article, we have explored why it is important to consider the current limits of control and connection components, and how to choose suitable cables to connect all components.

By the end of this article, we completed our exploration of the power system plan series together. We hope these ideas and methods help you find the right way forward and save time when choosing a power source.

These articles might help you as well — take a look!

Power System Plan: Models Come Alive! #1

Power System Plan: Models Come Alive! #2

Power System Plan: Models Come Alive! #3

If this guide sparked ideas or felt familiar, share your thoughts in the comments — let’s chat! Like and save if it helped.

4 Likes
Using a battery to power a Cob led light
Large Prints: Say Goodbye to Warping!
2

I really wish MakerSupply parts considered the incompatible connections to power.

We have to use XH2.54, PH2.0, ZH1.5 & SH1.0 depending on which products are purchased.

Products like the rechargeable kit is the only one to use ZH1.5 connectors. It comes with either a 50 or 100mm cable, we do nit know which until it arrives (buzzard) and there are no ZH1.5 to ZH1.5 cables that can be purchased to guarantee a suitable length. There are no ZH1.5 connector adapter boards either.

The XH1.5 to SH1.0 cable is brand new. To make a longer cable, we need at least two ZH1.5 to SH1.0 cables and at least one SH1.0 to SH1.0 connector adapter boards. A lot of extras that take up space, make running cables in models difficult and needlessly increase the cost and risk of failure points.

The recently added XH2.54 to PH2.0 cable is a long overdue but welcome addition. However, the equivalent connector adapter boards have yet to materialise.

You only sell one separate li-ion battery. Three simple products come with different batteries with different connectors:

  • The rechargeable kit, with a different connector (the very unsupported ZH1.5).
  • The first water kit comes with a 3.7 volt li-ion using PH2.0 connector
  • The second water kit comes with a 7.4 volt li-ion kit using a PH2.0 connector.

Bigger kits like:

  • The vacuum kit comes with a bigger battery and yet another connector

That is five different li-ion batteries across five different sizes, four connectors and only one can be purchased individually.

The individually purchased one can’t connect to the rechargeable kit nor the power distribution board.

There are some ways to achieve some success by running cables together using a variety of adapters and cables that have different ends, but that just makes models and projects messy and unwieldy.

CyberBrick still lacks a USB rechargeable board option so the model (and remote controller) can be charged without having to disassemble the model. If the rechargeable power kit didn’t use the ZH1.5 connectors it could be used, but of course, no one thought any of this through.

Could we please have:

  • Cables to connect every combination of adapter you have used in the batteries or kits so we can connect them up together? In 100mm, 200mm and 300mm lengths at least
  • Connector adapter boards to connect every combination of adapter you have used in the batteries or kits so we can connect them up together? in 1 to 1, 1 to 2 and 1 to 4.
  • Multiple li-ion batteries sizes and voltages to achieve our aims efficiently and keeping in mind this article tells us to be aware of what and how we use things - so let us.
  • A USB rechargeable board for CyberBrick that can be embedded in a model. Ideally with a USB socket attached to the board by a cable and the same for the power switch and status LED. These would let designers locate the power switch, charge socket and status light unique to the models being designed rather than forcing the model to conform to the board?
  • A wiki guide to which batteries connect to with kits and vice versa. To be updated when new products launch.
  • A 3-pin version of this board SH1.0 to Dual SH1.0 Adapter
5 Likes
Using a battery to power a Cob led light
CyberBrick Revisited - Is it still hot or a flop? Potential lacking?
3

Hi Malc,

Wow, thanks for the incredibly detailed breakdown! We hear you loud and clear—the “connector chaos” (XH, PH, ZH, SH…) is definitely a major pain point. We never ignored this.

To be honest, as MakerSupply grew, different kits were developed for specific categories of models, which led to this mix of standards. We realize now that this makes “mixing and matching” parts a lot harder than it should be. While it’s tricky to change the BOM for existing models that people have already built, we are taking your feedback to heart for everything coming next.

A few quick updates based on your “wish list”:

  • Standardization: This is exactly why we’re pushing CyberBrick. Now that we have witnessed various incredible projects being made on MakerWorld with previous MS and CB parts, we now have a better picture in mind how to unify the ecosystem. We want to move toward a more “plug-and-play” ecosystem with better universality. We’d admit that the current CyberBrick lineup needs a lot of improvements and additions, but trust that we have been working hard on this, rethinking the various issues the community has reported and advised. Stay tuned for future upgrades!

  • Specific Parts: Your ideas for the USB rechargeable board (with remote sockets/LEDs) and the specific 1-to-X adapter boards are brilliant. We’re actually looking into expanding our cable and adapter selection (including those 100/200/300mm lengths) to bridge these gaps. We will also try to unify the port definitions because physical adapters apparently aren’t the ultimate solution.

  • Documentation: A compatibility Wiki is a great shout. We’ll see how we can better visualize which battery goes with which kit to save everyone the guesswork.

Keep these ideas coming—they’re exactly what we need to make the ecosystem actually usable for creators.

2 Likes