controlling 15 motors

Using Arduino Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hello, I'm volunteering for a not for profit and I need some ideas. They are having me help them design a project that will power 15 DC brushed motors. The motors are 12v, 2amp and will need to be run at various speeds and in different directions. My plan was to use the L298N but I would like to know if there is a cheaper option? Any ideas would be awesome!

Thanks!

2

You can find 2A H-bridge chips for a little less:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/BA6219B/BA6219B-ND/658358
vs
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/BA6222/BA6222-ND/2673806
vs
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/L298N/497-1395-5-ND/585918

Outside of that, you are looking at making your own h-bridge driver with 4 transistors each and all that goes with that.

3

Thanks for the suggestions but the one I found was a little cheaper…

Also I don't exactly know how to connect them to the Arduino as I was planning on figuring it out once I got them but they would like schematic and I was wondering if anybody had one? (i only need to show how to connect one to the Arduino)

Thanks!

4

Wow, that is a good price.
Anyway, hook it up per the datasheet. See Figure 6.

You can also google L298 Shield and finds sites like this
http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/MotorDrivers
with connection info.

5

I looked at the data sheet and I understood wear to hook everything to but I don't know If I need other parts to put in-between the connections. Do I need some diodes or resistors?

Thanks!

6

Diode, yes. See the figure I referenced.

7

I read the link as soon as you posted it but I don't know wear to put the diodes It appears like I will need 8 but wear to place them? "There are 8 diodes that are connected from the motor outputs to ground and the motor power supply." I don't quite understand that. Please forgive my ignorance as i'm still trying to understated electronics!

8

You will need 4 per motor. Connect them close to the motor.

L298_connections.jpg
L298_connections.jpg960×720 45.1 KB

9

Thanks!

10

Might save some time and trouble to just buy the h-bridge boards like below.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-PCS-Dual-H-Bridge-DC-Stepper-Motor-Drive-Controller-Board-Module-Arduino-L298N-/321147141737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac5dc7e69

11

I was looking over that picture and to be honest I have never really used one like that, (I have only used the nice color ones) and it a appears like I need some 100nf capacitors. Is that true?

Zoomkat I thought about buying some pre made motor driver however they are double the cost and I must build everything for under $150 Including the Arduino Mega.

Thanks!