Motor does not turn when running the VNH5019 demo program using an Arduino Nano ESP32

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hello, I have used this motor controller with Arduino Mega 2560 in a project many years ago. I am now trying to use it with an Arduino Nano ESP32. I tried the Demo program in DualVNH5019MotorShield but it does not work. Motor does not turn at all and I can turn it by hand. Perhaps due to compatibility issue with the ESP32? Could you pleae have a look?
All the components are working and the LED on the VNH5019 is on. I could use another program to turn it but the official demo program about 10 years old does not work.

For your convenience, here is the program:

#include "DualVNH5019MotorShield.h"




DualVNH5019MotorShield md;




void stopIfFault()

{

  if (md.getM1Fault())

  {

    Serial.println("M1 fault");

    while(1);

  }

  if (md.getM2Fault())

  {

    Serial.println("M2 fault");

    while(1);

  }

}




void setup()

{

  Serial.begin(115200);

  Serial.println("Dual VNH5019 Motor Shield");

  md.init();

}




void loop()

{

  for (int i = 0; i <= 400; i++)

  {

    md.setM1Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M1 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM1CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }

  

  for (int i = 400; i >= -400; i--)

  {

    md.setM1Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M1 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM1CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }

  

  for (int i = -400; i <= 0; i++)

  {

    md.setM1Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M1 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM1CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }




  for (int i = 0; i <= 400; i++)

  {

    md.setM2Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M2 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM2CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }

  

  for (int i = 400; i >= -400; i--)

  {

    md.setM2Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M2 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM2CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }

  

  for (int i = -400; i <= 0; i++)

  {

    md.setM2Speed(i);

    stopIfFault();

    if (i%200 == 100)

    {

      Serial.print("M2 current: ");

      Serial.println(md.getM2CurrentMilliamps());

    }

    delay(2);

  }

}
2

The Nano ESP32 was introduced 2 years ago.

The library code you are trying to use was last updated 7 years ago.

5 years before the Nano ESP32 existed.

It's hardly surprising that the library code doesn't work with a board that didn't exist when it was written.

2 Likes
3

This is anoher program that I tried and could turn the motor. However, there is a problem. At lower speeds (e.g. i = 50), the torque also gets lower and I could stop the motor easily by hand. It is not the motor problem because if I connected it directly to the power source, it had much higher torque and I could not stop it by hand. Kow how to fix that? Any sample program that works without this issue?


int motor2Pin_A = 2;
int motor2Pin_B = 3;
int PWM2   =  21;
int i = 50;

void setup(){
  pinMode(motor2Pin_A, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motor2Pin_B, OUTPUT);
  ledcAttachPin(PWM2, 0);
  ledcSetup(0, 490, 8); 
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin_A, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin_B, HIGH);
  ledcWrite(0, i);
  delay(100);
}
4

Reduce the delay by 1/2 and try again. Then do it again and again until you get the rotation speed you want.

5

Rather then guess I would like you to post an annotated schematic showing exactly how you have wired it. Also include links to each of the hardware parts.

6

Why reducing the i value not only slows down the turning but also reduces the torque?

7

That would increase the pulse rate and increase the motor speed, but your setup obviously does not work that way. So, how does your setup attempt to power the motor?

8

Sorry I don’t quite understand what you mean. What setup are you talking about? I have an external power source to power the VNH5019 and the motor.

9

If the (loop) part of your program is not controlling the motor, what is it doing?

10

I didn’t write it. I found it on the internet. It was working but not anymore. Anybody has a sample program that works?

11

That’s like choosing from a box of unlabeled cans and hoping you don’t pick dog food. Without clear details, all we can do is guess.