Hey, complete noob/idiot here. I just got started with the engineering kit and accidentally connected the battery to the motor carrier backwards, I realized shortly after and pulled out the battery, it was really hot at the tip and there was a smell of smoke for just a second. Ever since, the CHRG light on the motor carrier flashes and ticks, and I am unable to spin any motors from it (they just vibrate but the axle doesn't rotate). What did I break / how can I fix it? Please tell me I did not just waste 400$. Any help is much appreciated
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Hi @michaelbitz
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but its sounds like you might have wasted $400 
.
Can you please post a link to your "motor carrier" and also photos.
You destroyed at least some of the parts electrically connected to the reversed battery, but not all of them.
We've all done that, so consider it a learning experience.
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Could you a little less vague?
I was only testing out the first dcmotor, the only components involved were the arduino, the motor carrier and the battery
Is there any way to find out whats broken and whats not?
I cant post photos because im new, the motor Carrier is this one: Arduino Nano Motor Carrier — Arduino Online Shop
Nice driver. Ummm, there's no backward power protection on there. I suspect your driver is blown.
Schematic for it.
Whats a driver? What do you think I should do, replace these parts?
You will have to replace the entire motor carrier. If the processor board was plugged into it, that may have survived. Test that separately.
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How can I test that
What about the battery? Is that useless too now?
The battery is probably fine. To test other parts of the engineering kit, follow the "getting started" advice in the engineering kit documentation.
Sounds like you got way, way ahead of yourself.
It depends. Probably not. I have done the same thing with a 3S LIPO and it still works as if it was undamaged.
Alright, thanks alot
Thanks for all the help, from what I understand I might only need a new motor carrier? Is that about right?
Yes.
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That is what I said! That is shocking to say the least. I think that is a mistype, and is really either 50 or 5 amps.
EDIT: Actually, "The MP6522 is an H-bridge motor driver that operates from a supply voltage of up to 35V and delivers a peak motor current of up to 3.2A."
Somebody needs to fix that.
A 1N4007 diode in series with the positive battery lead connected with the banded end towards the driver bd and the other end connected to the battery would have prevented it.
It induces a 0.7V drop in voltage but likely that wouldn't affect anything.