I am just starting my first project and I would be so happy for advice. I suppose this is a quite simple question for the experts…
I have a bi-polar NEMA 17 stepper motor which I want to control by a L298N motor controler and an Arduino Uno R4. However looking into the data sheets I got concerned that the L298N might not fit to the motor.
My objectives are:
Find out if my available hardware fits together
If there is a general guideline to find a correct controler for a given motor.
NEMA 17 motor specifications (ACT 17HS6416D6L2)
2 Phase
Voltage (nominal): 3.52 V
Current (nominal): 1.6 A / phase
Resistance: 2.2 Ohm / phase
L298N specifications:
Drive voltage 5-35 V
Drive current: 2A (MAX single bridge)
Max. power: 25 W
I have planned to connect the L298N 12V input to 12VDC at my laboratory power supply.
But if I calculate the current by means of the motor resistance I get a current value that exceeds both the current specification of motor and L298N (12V/2.2Ohm = 5.5A).
Do I have to adjust the voltage supply at the L298N input to 3.52 V and limit the max. current to 1.6 A to not get the components overheated?
Or is the L298N somehow self-regulating (e.g. it limits the current to 2A by itself, independent of the connected drive torque (5-35V) and motor phase resistance (2.2 Ohm))?
The L298 is very old and inefficient thus producing a lot of heat. Try looking at the MOSFET type of driver. the website for Stepper Motor Drivers has a lot of info. The choice is based primarily on max current.
is the L298N somehow self-regulating (e.g. it limits the current to 2A by itself
No, the L298 is totally inappropriate for low impedance steppers like the one you linked and will not work at all in this case. It is self regulating, in the sense that it simply overheats and shuts down completely. A true current limiting stepper driver is required.
This driver (among others on that site) would be appropriate. Be sure to follow the instructions for setting the current limit to 1.5 Amperes or below (for less torque).
