[PD] PD, arduino and sharp range detectors

[Tim Boykett]

Hi All,

   We are having trouble with a PD - Arduino - Sharp IR gp2d12 IR  
range sensor.

everything works for a while, then the arduino just stops and sometimes
takes PD down with it. once we had a warning from the OS that there  
was too much current
being sucked on the USB port.

we are using three such things, each uses typically 33 and up to 50  
mA. This
should (according to the Arduino and USB specs) not be too much, but  
perhaps
these are wrong.

Any other ideas? I have heard of people using smoothing capacitors on  
the
sharp sensors.

Hmm, puzzled in Linz,

   Tim