I am using a PChero L298N motor driver (a run-of-the-mill Amazon motor driver) running on 24V input. When I unplug the jumper connected to the 5V regulator, the motor driver stops working altogether. The schematic is essentially captured in this diagram: (I'm using a Raspberry Pi, but the motor driver input and motor is accurate)
I've tested another PChero motor driver board, and a previous motor driver board I purchased years ago and all three exhibit the same problem when I remove the jumper.
So, I've run the motor driver on 24V with the jumper still in place for increasing lengths of time, and haven't observed any heat but have smelt a potentially burning-related smell, so I thought it would be best to take a step back.
My Question
I've seen others have had the same issue but have not been able to find any solutions. Is there a reason the motor driver won't work unless the jumper is in place? If I dial down the duty cycle of my motors, would that give any benefit to reducing the load going through the 5V regulator?
With the wiring as you have shown it, the motor won't run with the jumper or without. There is no common ground between the Arduino and the motor driver board.
If you remove the 5V jumper, then -- 1. Connect 5V-pin of UNO with +5V-pin of the Motor Driver. 2. Connect GND-pin of UNO with GND-pin of Motor Driver.
That 5V jumper of the Motor Driver is removed when you connect >12V at the +12V-pin of the Motor Driver. This is to save the onboard 12V/5V regulator.
Thanks for all of your explanations, a lightbulb went off when reading them!
So, I removed the regulator jumper and connected the 5V from my Raspberry Pi to the 5V input on the driver (and my Raspberry Pi GND was already wired to the driver's GND, unlike the diagram I provided above) and sure enough it powered the IC!
Unfortunately, two of the inner battery cells I was using to power the system we actually dead and so my power supply was a significantly lower voltage than supposed to be. As a result, every time a motor was set to high, my Raspberry Pi would shut off. And then when debugging, I heard the pop from my l298n IC. Not sure why the IC would blow, especially when being powered by too little voltage as opposed to too much.
