Adafruit motor shield?

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Im pretty new to arduino and I dont know too much about the specs of shields.
The adafruit motor shield can power 4 DC motors, where as the Arduino motor shield can power only 2 DC motors.
I need to power 4 linear actuators. It seems kinda obvious I should get the adafruit motor shield in that case. But is there any PRos in going with the Arduino version over the Adafruit? Also which one will I get more support and documentation on?

Adafruit Motor Shield :Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit [v2.3] : ID 1438 : $19.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

Arduino Motor Shield: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoMotorShieldR3

2

I can't answer your question, but you need to check that your actuators are actually dc motors. Some models behave like servos, in which case you don't need any kind if driver, just a vacant i/o pin.

A Firgelli actuator with the "-R" suffix, for example, is a servo.

3

Wow, thanks i didnt know that.. i thought all were DC motors. Ill look into it then. I am actually considering the type P Firgelli :slight_smile:

4

Izzy92:
Wow, thanks i didnt know that.. i thought all were DC motors. Ill look into it then. I am actually considering the type P Firgelli :slight_smile:

Then you have a bigger budget than I.... must be a work project 8)

5

Then you have a bigger budget than I.... must be a work project smiley-cool

Aha not me. The university will buy them :slight_smile:

I cant even afford 1 :frowning:

I need to motorize an excavator.
what do u need a linear actuator for?

6

I don't need one at all, but if there was a cheap one available locally I'd just get one to play with.

Here's a nice cheap one, but they don't have a dealer here and to ship one will cost a fortune.