L298N - only one motor at a time and Arduino freezes - serial stops, but meters still going -

[sejlstrup]

Hello, im trying to make a RC car controlled with gyroscope!
I can't get both motors to spin at the same time! and when trying to testing, it takes a few seconds then the serial freezes and one or two motors will spin constantly. this is the only time where both motors will spin at the same time.

please help me ! thx

#include <MPU6050_light.h>

#define enA 13
#define in1 12
#define in2 11

#define enB 10
#define in3 8
#define in4 9

int motorSpeedA = 0;
int motorSpeedB = 0;

MPU6050 mpu(Wire);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(enA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(enB, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in4, OUTPUT);

  byte status = mpu.begin();

  Serial.println("Calculating offsets, do not move MPU6050");
  delay(1000);
  mpu.calcOffsets(true,true); //calibrating
  Serial.println("Done!\n");
}
void loop() {
  mpu.update();
  
  if (mpu.getAngleX() > 30){
    // Set Motor A forward
    digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(in2, HIGH);
    //Set Motor B Forward
    digitalWrite(in3, LOW);
    digitalWrite(in4, HIGH);
    motorSpeedA = map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, 80, 0, 255);
    motorSpeedB = map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, 80, 0, 255);
    Serial.print(map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, 80, 0, 255));
    }
    else if (mpu.getAngleX() < -30){
    // Set Motor A backward
    digitalWrite(in1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(in2, LOW);
    //Set Motor B backward
    digitalWrite(in3, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(in4, LOW);
    motorSpeedA = map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, -80, 0, 255);
    motorSpeedB = map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, 80, 0, 255);
    Serial.print(map(mpu.getAngleX(), 0, 80, 0, 255));
    }
      // If joystick stays in middle the motors are not moving
    else {
      motorSpeedA = 0;
      motorSpeedB = 0;
    }
    // X-axis used for left and right control
    if (mpu.getAngleY() > 30) {
      // Convert the declining X-axis readings from 470 to 0 into increasing 0 to 255 value
      int xMapped = map(mpu.getAngleY(), 0, 80, 0, 255);
      // Move to left - decrease left motor speed, increase right motor speed
      motorSpeedA = motorSpeedA - xMapped;
      motorSpeedB = motorSpeedB + xMapped;
      // Confine the range from 0 to 255
      if (motorSpeedA < 0) {
        motorSpeedA = 0;
      }
      if (motorSpeedB > 255) {
       motorSpeedB = 255;
      }
    }
    
    if (mpu.getAngleY() < -30) {
      // Convert the increasing X-axis readings from 550 to 1023 into 0 to 255 value
      int xMapped = map(mpu.getAngleY(), 0, 80, 0, 255);
      // Move right - decrease right motor speed, increase left motor speed
      motorSpeedA = motorSpeedA + xMapped;
      motorSpeedB = motorSpeedB - xMapped;
      // Confine the range from 0 to 255
      if (motorSpeedA > 255) {
        motorSpeedA = 255;
      }
      if (motorSpeedB < 0) {
        motorSpeedB = 0;
      }
    }
    // Prevent buzzing at low speeds (Adjust according to your motors. My motors couldn't start moving if PWM value was below value of 70)
    if (motorSpeedA < 70) {
      motorSpeedA = 0;
    }
    if (motorSpeedB < 70) {
      motorSpeedB = 0;
    }
   analogWrite(enA, motorSpeedA); // Send PWM signal to motor A
   analogWrite(enB, motorSpeedB); // Send PWM signal to motor B
  
   Serial.print("\tX:\t");Serial.print(mpu.getAngleX());
   Serial.print("\tY:\t");Serial.print(mpu.getAngleY());
   Serial.println();
}

[groundFungus]

9V transistor (smoke alarm) batteries can't supply the current required by a motor (let alone 2) for very long if at all.

L298 motor drivers are really crappy motor drivers compared to modern technology. They drop 2 to over 4 Volts of the motor supply and dissipate it as waste heat. Not good for battery operated devices. Modern drivers have MOSFET output stages and are much much more efficient. Pololu has a good selection of motor drivers.

[sejlstrup]

Thanks for the quick response, sadly im on a tight schedule. this is a exam project, so im not sure I have time to order new parts would you switch out the power source? and if so to what? can I combine to 9 volt batteries to do the trick?

[jremington]

Substitute a 6xAA battery pack for the smoke alarm battery.

[groundFungus]

Putting 9V batteries in parallel will increase the current while keeping the voltage at 9V.

Another option would be a 6 AA battery pack. That would give you 9V and more current capability.