Help needed with controlling DC motors with the L298N

[DaveX]

Wouldn't it work to put 12V on the module's input, use the module's 7805 to get 5V, then waste another 2V through the L298N, and deliver 3V to the motors at the bottom end of their 3-6V range?

Or use a different power supply:

9v external power + 3-6v dc motors?

So you have 3 options, the 9V alkaline, 4AA and 6AA The L293 will drop the voltage maybe 2V so with the 4AAs the motor will see 4V, with 6AA it will see 7V. The 4V is within the motor specification the 7V is a little high but shouldn't hurt. Of course with 7V it will run faster. The 6AA will last the longest, the 4AA next and the 9V the shortest