Arduino Nano issues with running DC Motor

blaravie · May 25, 2021, 12:20am

Hello all,

I am at a loss for what I am doing wrong in my attempt to run a dc motor with a rotary encoder, l298N, and Arduino Nano.

Here is the code I am running:

/* Turbofan Driver
    This program used an L298N motor driver with a 12VDC motor.
    The 20x4 LCD displays motor speed, turbofan speed, and motor voltage.
    An encoder is used to control the motor speed.
    Press the button to set speed back to zero.
    Hold the button for 2 seconds to set the Maximum Fan RPM
    Hold the button for 5 seconds to reset the Maximum Fan RPM to uncapped.
    Maximum RPM set is remembered inside the program even after power down.
    The system uses to following components:
      Arduino Nano
      L298N Motor Driver
      RS-555SH 12VDC Motor (or equivalent)
      2004D I2C LCD Screen
      20 PPR Rotary Encoder
      12VDC Power Supply
      1x 10k resistor
      1x 100k resistor
    ADJUST ALL STATEMENTS WITH '***' IN THE COMMENTS
    Written and designed by Adam B Johnson
    in British Columbia, Canada
    15 January 2021
*/

#define gearRatio 2.27              //fixed gear ratio

#include <Encoder.h>                //Might need to download this library. Tools > Manage Libraries > Search for 'Encoder'
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>      //Might also need to download this one in the same way.
#include <EEPROM.h>                 //This should have been included when you installed Arduino IDE. No downloade needed

//##################  Adjust these values accordingly #######################################

#define chB 2                           //***pin B of the rotary encoder (channel B)
#define chA 3                           //***pin A of the rotary encoder (channel A)
#define motorDir1 9                     //***motor direction forward pin to driver
#define motorDir2 10                    //***motor direction reverse pin to driver            
#define motorPWM 6                      //***PWM pin to motor controller 
#define pushButton 7                    //***Button pin
#define voltPin A0                      //***Analog pin for motor voltage measurement
#define arduinoVoltage 4.98             //***Actual measured 5 volt pin from the arduino
#define R1 100500.0                     //***Actual resistance of 100k resistor
#define R2 9930.0                       //***Actual resistance of 10k resistor
float rpmPerVolt = (4825 / 12);         //***DC motor max RPM (4825) divided by max voltage (12VDC. Measure both paraments and adjust
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x3F, 20, 4);     //***Adjust screen address if needed. Use File > Examples > Wire > i2c_scanner to acquire address and change 0x3F as needed.

//##################  End of adjustable parameters #######################################

int eeAddress = 0;
int pwmMax;
int pwmVal = 0;
bool setFlag = false;

int fanSpeed = 0;                   //speed of the turbofan in RPM
int mtrSpeed = 0;                   //speed of the motor in RPM
int deadBand = 20;                  //minimum PWM signal for the motor to move
float vout = 0.0;                   //Voltage out of the motor
float roughVoltage = 0.0;
int avgInst = 350;                  //this should equal the sizeof(tempArray)
int voltCount = 0;
float tempArray[350];               //temp array for averaging voltage readings: array size = number of averaging points
float finalVolt = 0.0;              //averaged result
float oldVolt = 0.0;                //check to see if voltage changes after each loop

long timeNew = 0;                   //time stamp at beginning of loop
long timeOld = 0;                   //time stamp at end of end
long tempTimer = 0;
long oldPos = 0;                    //old position of the encoder
long newPos = 0;                    //new position of the encoder

Encoder myEncoder(chA, chB);

void setup() {
  //Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(voltPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(motorDir1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorDir2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorPWM, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(pushButton, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(chA, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(chB, INPUT_PULLUP);

  myEncoder.write(oldPos);
  digitalWrite(motorDir1, HIGH);  //motor direction (FWD = HIGH). DON'T CHANGE. SWITCH THE WIRES IF DIRECTION IS WRONG
  digitalWrite(motorDir2, LOW);   //motor direction (REV = LOW). DON'T CHANGE. SWITCH THE WIRES IF DIRECTION IS WRONG
  analogWrite(motorPWM, 0);

  lcd.init();
  lcd.setCursor ( 3, 0 );
  lcd.print("Turbofan Driver");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 2 );
  lcd.print("Adam B. Johnson");
  lcd.setCursor( 0, 3);
  lcd.print("BC, Canada");
  lcd.setCursor ( 16, 3 );
  lcd.print("2021");

  delay(4500);
  lcd.clear();
  screenSetup();
  zeroNums();
  printSpeeds();
  printVoltage();
  myEncoder.write(0);
  analogWrite(motorPWM, 0);
}

void loop() {
  newPos = myEncoder.read() ;
  timeNew = millis();
  EEPROM.get(eeAddress, pwmMax);

  if (voltCount < avgInst) {
    vout = (analogRead(voltPin) * arduinoVoltage) / 1024.0;             //Measure your 5VDC rail to ground with your DMM. Change 4.98 to whatever yours is
    roughVoltage = vout / (R2 / (R1 + R2));
    tempArray[voltCount] = roughVoltage;
  } else {
    voltCount = 0;
  }

  if (newPos > 0) {
    //Serial.println(newPos);
    if (timeNew - timeOld > 300) {
      finalVolt = 0.0;
      for (int i = 0; i < avgInst; i++) {
        finalVolt += tempArray[i];
      }
      timeOld = timeNew;
      finalVolt = finalVolt / avgInst;
      if (abs(finalVolt - oldVolt) > 0.03) {
        mtrSpeed = rpmPerVolt * finalVolt;
        fanSpeed = mtrSpeed / gearRatio;
        oldVolt = finalVolt;
        clearNums();
        printVoltage();
        printSpeeds();
      }
    }
  }
  voltCount++;

  if ((newPos != oldPos) && (newPos > 0) && (newPos < pwmMax - deadBand)) {
    pwmVal = newPos + deadBand;
    analogWrite(motorPWM, pwmVal);
    oldPos = newPos;
  }
  if ((newPos != oldPos) && (newPos <= 0) && (newPos < pwmMax - deadBand)) {
    delay(250);
    myEncoder.write(0);
    analogWrite(motorPWM, 0);
    clearNums();
    zeroNums();
    delay(50);
    myEncoder.write(0);
    analogWrite(motorPWM, 0);
  }
  if ((newPos != oldPos) && (newPos > 0) && (newPos >= pwmMax - deadBand)) {
    myEncoder.write(4 * (pwmMax - deadBand));
    analogWrite(motorPWM, pwmVal);
    pwmVal = pwmMax;
    oldPos = pwmMax - deadBand;
    mtrSpeed = mtrSpeed = rpmPerVolt * finalVolt;
    fanSpeed = mtrSpeed / gearRatio;
  }


  if (digitalRead(pushButton) == LOW) {
    //Serial.print("buttonPressed");
    delay(25);
    if (digitalRead(pushButton) == LOW) {
      //Serial.print("buttonStillPressed");
      setFlag = false;
      delay(500);
      if (digitalRead(pushButton) == LOW) {
        EEPROM.put(eeAddress, pwmVal);
        for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
          lcd.setCursor(i, 0);
          lcd.print(" ");
        }
        lcd.setCursor(1, 0);
        lcd.print("Max Speed Set: ");
        lcd.setCursor(16, 0);
        lcd.print(fanSpeed);
        delay(3000);
        if (digitalRead(pushButton) == LOW) {
          EEPROM.put(eeAddress, 255);
          for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
            lcd.setCursor(i, 0);
            lcd.print(" ");
          }
          lcd.setCursor(2, 0);
          lcd.print("Max Speed Reset");
          delay(3000);
        }
        for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
          lcd.setCursor(i, 0);
          lcd.print(" ");
        }
        lcd.setCursor(3, 0);
        lcd.print("Turbofan Stats");
        setFlag = true;
      }
      if (setFlag == false) {
        myEncoder.write(0);
        analogWrite(motorPWM, 0);
        clearNums();
        zeroNums();
        setFlag = true;
      }
    }
  }

}



void printVoltage() {
  if ((finalVolt > 0) && (finalVolt < 10.0)) {
    lcd.setCursor (12, 3 );
  } else if ((finalVolt < 15.0) && (finalVolt >= 10.0)) {
    lcd.setCursor (11, 3 );
  } else {
    lcd.setCursor (12, 3 );
    finalVolt = 0;
  }
  lcd.print(finalVolt, 2);
}


void printSpeeds() {
  if (fanSpeed < 100 && fanSpeed >= 10) {
    lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
  } else if (fanSpeed < 1000 && fanSpeed >= 100) {
    lcd.setCursor (13, 1 );
  } else if (fanSpeed < 10000 && fanSpeed >= 1000) {
    lcd.setCursor (12, 1 );
  } else if (fanSpeed == 0) {
    lcd.setCursor (15, 1 );
  } else {
    lcd.setCursor (15, 1 );
    fanSpeed = 0;
  }
  lcd.print(fanSpeed);
  if (mtrSpeed < 100 && mtrSpeed >= 10) {
    lcd.setCursor(14, 2);
  } else if (mtrSpeed < 1000 && mtrSpeed >= 100) {
    lcd.setCursor (13, 2 );
  } else if (mtrSpeed < 10000 && mtrSpeed >= 1000) {
    lcd.setCursor (12, 2 );
  } else if (mtrSpeed == 0) {
    lcd.setCursor (15, 2 );
  } else {
    lcd.setCursor (15, 2 );
    mtrSpeed = 0;
  }
  lcd.print(mtrSpeed);
}


void clearNums() {
  for (int i = 11; i < 17; i++) {
    for (int j = 1; j < 4; j++) {
      lcd.setCursor (i, j);
      lcd.print(" ");
    }
  }
}


void zeroNums() {
  oldPos = 0;
  mtrSpeed = 0;
  fanSpeed = 0;
  finalVolt = 0;
  delay(100);
  printSpeeds();
  printVoltage();
}


void screenSetup() {
  lcd.setCursor ( 3, 0 );
  lcd.print("Turbofan Stats");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 1 );
  lcd.print("Fan Speed:");
  lcd.setCursor (17, 1 );
  lcd.print("RPM");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 2 );
  lcd.print("Mtr Speed:");
  lcd.setCursor (17, 2 );
  lcd.print("RPM");
  lcd.setCursor ( 0, 3 );
  lcd.print("Voltage:");
  lcd.setCursor (17, 3 );
  lcd.print("VDC");
}

I'm using this schematic:

and here is the pictures with the actual arduino/module driver/encoder setup:

The DC motor I'm using is this:
https://www.parts-express.com/Mabuchi-Type-Motor-RS-555SH-12V-DC-Motor-9-15V-57mm-x-36mm-125-566

Encoder:

So I've checked all my continuity and voltage and everything looks good, but I can't get the DC motor to run via the rotary encoder no matter what I do. The encoder works fine with the arduino (by using the example code), same with the screen. I've verified the dc motor works by using a different L298N as well.

Can someone please help me here? It's driving me absolutely crazy that I can't get this to work and I'm out of options. Maybe something wrong with the way I have everything connected? Bad L298N driver? Bad code?

raschemmel · May 25, 2021, 2:38am

Not to state the obvious, but did you test the motor by itself ?
Again, not to state the obvious but did run motor code by itself, with everything else
commented out ?

Not to leave you out in the cold, here's a simple L298 motor test sketch.
It the motor doesn't work with this then it's miswired or defective or the power supply
voltage is too low.
L298_MOTOR_TEST.ino (1.3 KB)

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 3:50am

That's interesting. I used that code and the DC motor worked just fine.

At this point I have verified all the components work but I cannot get the rotary encoder to command the DC motor.

Is it something wrong with the code?

TomGeorge · May 26, 2021, 3:58am

Hi,
What do you want the encoder to do?
. Feedback position.
. Feedback speed.

What is the application?

Thanks.. Tom..

LarryD · May 26, 2021, 4:06am

What did the power transformer smell like when you connected it to 120VAC ?

Connecting terminal 2 on the motor to GND might make some smoke too.

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 4:33am

I am using the rotary encoder to control the DC motor RPM.

It was fine and no smoke, but I was made aware of having that ground can cause the L298N to smoke/fail. I was leaning towards that being the issue, but I just ran that L298 test code and it worked just fine. So that rules out the driver module being bad, right?

TomGeorge · May 26, 2021, 4:48am

Hi,

Have you written code that just reads the encoder, to prove your hardware and encoder software?

Tom..

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 4:52am

Yes and it works good. I used the example sketch

LarryD · May 26, 2021, 5:05am

You never connect the output of that driver to GND !

Your DC power Supply is drawn backwards in the schematic !

The LED in the power switch needs a series dropping resistor.

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 1:31pm

I think I’m lucky that I didn’t fry the module. I was suprised that it worked with the example sketch.

I know the power supply is backwards in the schematic, I have it connected properly to my setup.

Thank you for that last bit, I haven’t connected it yet but I will do that when I hopefully get this thing properly running

Could the issue reside in the code I am using?

raschemmel · May 26, 2021, 4:09pm

If it works with the code I gave you the issue is most likely S/W.

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 4:20pm

What is S/W?

raschemmel · May 26, 2021, 4:38pm

"S/W" is the industry standard abbreviation for
SOFTWARE (to save time in emails)
This is the part where you reply "I knew that."
Robert

blaravie · May 26, 2021, 4:54pm

The arduino software? Do you any have suggestions I should try?

raschemmel · May 27, 2021, 1:59am

Allow me to spell it out. "T H E C O D E M I G H T H A V E A BUG"
FYI, "BUG" is a term IBM coined back in the 50s when their supercomputer (which happened
to be ELECTROMECHANICAL (RELAYS) had failure that was traced to a moth caught in between
the contacts, jamming the relay. The term stuck and to this day, (what ? 70 years later?) S/W
problems (not SOFTWARE(like C or C++) but CODING ERRORS are referred to as 'bugs'. Funny
heh ?)
The to state the obvious, but start with what works (the motor code) and start adding one
line at a time and then testing it until you break it and it doesn't work. That should pretty
much narrow it down. You're on your own if it's a SYNTAX error. S/W isn't my bag. I cut &
paste, but have yet to encounter anything I couldn't do that way.
You should separate your code blocks into sub blocks containing sections (A,B,C etc...) and
start adding those to the working motor code. Testing after each addition. This should
enable you to 'stubble' into the root cause of the issue, which, I have no clue is, since you
didn't say why it doesn't work. You have working code A & B but so far A+B=Z.
Good luck Mr. Phelps,
As always, should you be caught or captured.....

Paul_B · May 27, 2021, 12:10pm

You're kidding!

raschemmel · May 27, 2021, 12:39pm

Not really.
I typically find a sketch that does what I need
and change the pin numbers or timing specs.
I've run 15kH pwm sketches , Gammon's Frequency Counter. an actuator driver that tracks a pot position (+/- ), 20A stepper motor driver with STEP/DIR inputs,
and many more. A 16-key Hex Membrane keypad with a 74C925 chip , an ATTiny 300Vdc LCD EL Backlight Supply (charge pump).

All required minor changes
but all worked. I have I/O input test sketches that
light leds and output I/O 'walking bit tests'.
I have 37 different sensors (kit) all of which work.
I have hundreds of sketches saved. I doubt I
wrote any of them from scratch. I'm currently
using a 3-phase inverter sketch.
I get by.
Pretty much everything I need is in the Arduino
Reference or playground.
I converted a microstepping W/F into code using
digitalWriteMicroseconds even though I had
lots of RAMPS A4988 drivers that have ustep
control pins.
I don't attempt anything that requires too much work. I just find it online and figure out how it
works. Why reinvent the wheel ?

system · September 24, 2021, 12:39pm

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