I was planning on getting the Makerfabs Dual H-Bridge DC motor controller( product code RB-MKf-04) to help with controlling 2 DC motors along with an Arduino Uno. My question is how do I power the Arduino separate from powering the DC motors when using the (RB-MKf-04) DC motor shield?
You use two power supplies. I would use a 9v 1 amp wall wort and plug into the power jack of the Uno. Connect the second unit to the +/- terminal block of the motor shield. Voltage and current of the second power supply depends your motors and their specs which you did not provide.
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Hi everyone, I'm new to this game and I hope it's ok if I post something that is pertinent to the original question but also ask a question of my own.
I am working on a similar project and was led to the L298N h-bridge module. I had read that one of its features was the ability to use a single power source for both the motors as well as the arduino.
I essentially followed the instructions here:
https://tronixlabs.com.au/news/tutorial-l298n-dual-motor-controller-module-2a-and-arduino/
I used generic dc motors like the ones shown here:
I then tested the two methods of powering the arduino. In both cases, the power source for the motors was a 4 x aa battery pack totalling 6v.
In one case, I removed the jumper pin from the L298, used the battery pack to power the motors and kept the arduino connected to pc via usb.
In the second case, I used only the battery pack to power the motors and also the arduino (by putting the jumper pin in the L298, and running a power line from there to the arduino's Vin pin).
Oddly, when using only the battery pack, the motors worked but when the arduino was separately hooked up to the pc, the motors did not come on at all. In the latter case, I know the arduino was working as I also had an ultrasonic sensor connected and was getting readings on the serial monitor). I read of others having the opposite experience, that the system would only work when the arduino was connected to the pc via usb.
Can anyone please help me figure out why the motors don't respond at all when the arduino is powered by the pc?
Many thanks.
Sorry, I found the answer. In case anyone is interested, I realised that when the jumper is removed, the L298 then needs input power for its internal circuit, and this must then be provided by running a line from a 5v output from the Arduino.