Cytron Maker Drive H-Bridge Motor Driver for Beginner
The Cytron Maker Drive is a beginner-friendly H-Bridge Motor Driver designed specifically to simplify controlling brushed DC motors. Unlike traditional solutions like the L298N, this Motor Driver for Beginners offers an easy-to-use interface, making it perfect for those new to motor control.
The compact DC Motor Driver Board allows you to control both the speed and direction of your motor effortlessly. Simply supply power to the motor terminals, and with the Maker Drive, you get seamless control without complicated wiring or programming.
This makes it an ideal choice for hobbyists, students, and anyone looking to start working with DC motors quickly and effectively.
The Problem Faced by Beginners in Driving DC Brushed Motor
Maker Drive is built based on user feedback, particularly from first-time users. If you are a beginner or newcomer who need a basic motor driver to drive a DC brushed motor for developing a mobile robot or other uses, you may encounter some of the following challenges:
Burning your Motor Driver - Many low-cost motor drivers do not include Reserve Polarity Protection, which can result in smoke shooting out of the driver if you connect the power in the incorrect polarity. This results in a burned-out motor driver, as well as a loss of money and effort. This will increase your anxiousness about starting your electronics project.
Too bulky for a tiny project - Some motor drivers come with a large heat sink that takes up too much space.
Difficult to test and debug - When using a standard motor driver for a building project, beginners frequently encounter a problem with testing and troubleshooting the circuit. Yes, even with a clear schematic or diagram, the circuit will not work immediately after connecting. Most of the time, we'll have to test or troubleshoot. Without easy-to-use input and output indications, you must develop a software to evaluate the motor driver. And this complicates troubleshooting because we don't know if the problem is caused by a wire connection or code in your software.
Separate Power for Low Voltage Motor - Many low-cost motor drivers include an integrated 5V linear voltage regulator, which is ideal for powering a controller like Arduino. However, this linear voltage regulator will not output 5V if Vin is less than 7V. However, many little toy motors used in DIY projects are rated at less than 7V. These motors can be driven by two AA or AAA batteries (3V or less), or a single-cell Li-ion 18650/Li-Po battery (3.7V rated voltage). That means you'll need two distinct power sources: one for the motors and another to provide a consistent 5V output for a controller like the Arduino board.
Here is Our Solution: Maker Drive
Maker Drive is designed to solve the above problems while adding some useful features:
Fool-Proof (Peace of Mind) - Maker Drive includes reverse polarity protection at the Vin/V motor/Vbatt (motor power) terminals. This safeguard will significantly lower the chance of harming the motor driver.
Maker Drive is designed to be tiny, around the size of a passport photo (43mm(W) x 35mm(L) x 14mm(H).
4 Test Buttons (2 for each channel) - Easily test the motor or mechanism without a controller or coding. Maker Drive includes two manual test buttons for each channel. Pressing one of the buttons will cause the output to run at full speed in a specific direction (if a motor is connected) on the corresponding channel. While another button directs the output in another direction. These buttons can be used to test the motor's direction, connection, and operation even without a controller. You'll love these buttons, believe me! You can also utilize these buttons for manual activation. No programming is required to use these buttons.
4 Indicator LEDs (2 per channel) - Simply test your coding and wire connections. You can use these indication LEDs to monitor the output voltage direction even if your motor is not connected. When used with the Manual Test Buttons, you can simply test the Maker Drive even without the controller or motor connected. You may also immediately identify the source of the mistake, making debugging easier. Of course, no programming is required either. These LEDs aid with testing and troubleshooting.
Buck-boost regulator produces 5V output from an input voltage as low as 2.5V. You can power your 5V controller with two AA batteries. Maker Drive can output 5V with input voltages ranging from 2.5V to 9.5V. This 5V output can supply 200mA to an external circuit such as a controller (Arduino), eliminating the need to get another power source for your controller. Now, your project can be powered by a single power source. With its wide input voltage range, Maker Drive can be powered by two AA or AAA batteries (1.5V x 2 = 3V) or a single-cell Li-ion or Lipo battery with a rated voltage of 3.7V. That's fantastic!
Regenerative Braking Control - Also known as Regen braking, this feature gives you more control over the motor's speed. Most applications function better in regen braking, such as line following, because the controller can manage the speed more precisely. Another option is coast stops, which allow the motor to slow down or stop due to inertia.
Support Stepper Motor - This is a bonus feature! Maker Drive is capable of operating a stepper motor.
Features:
Dual-channel bidirectional control motor driver.
Support motor voltages ranging from 2.5V to 9.5V.
The maximum continuous current is 1.0A, with a peak of 1.5A in less than 5 seconds.
5V output (200mA) is used to power the controller.
Inputs are compatible with 1.8V, 3.3V, and 5V logic (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.).
Solid-state components have a faster response time and eliminate the wear and tear of mechanical relays.
Regenerative braking.
Speed control PWM frequency up to 20KHz (actual output frequency equals input frequency).
Maker Drive is not an Arduino Shield, but it is compatible with different models of Arduino main board such as:
Arduino UNO R3
Arduino Mega 2560
Arduino Nano
Arduino Pro Mini
And the list goes on….
Not to forget that it accepts 1.8V, 3.3V & 5V logic (for control) and is compatible with a controller such as Raspberry Pi, Beagle Bone, ESP8266, ESP32, etc.
This product comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty from the date of purchase, covering manufacturing defects only.
Warranty Void If:
The product shows signs of physical damage, mishandling, exposure to water/moisture, fire, natural calamities, unauthorized repairs, improper storage near heat or direct sunlight, or alteration in any way.
