Mini L298N Motor Driver Module

Mini L298N ( MX1508 ) Motor Driver Module

1.5A Mini Dual Channel DC Motor Driver Module Beyond L298N PWM Speed Control ST
 

     The Mini L298N Motor Driver Module is a small two-channel (dual H bridge) DC motor driver board based on the MX1508 IC. It operates with a 2V - 10V supply; each channel delivers 1.5A continuous and up to 2.5A short-term peak current. It drives two DC motors forward and backward independently and adjusts their speed with a PWM signal; it can also drive a small 4-wire 2-phase stepper motor. With a size of about 24.7mm x 21mm it is much smaller than the classic L298N board.

     Because the bridge uses MOSFET switches with low on-resistance, it heats up little and needs no heatsink. The built-in thermal protection cuts the output when the motor stalls or is overloaded, and the board restarts by itself after it cools down. The standby current is below 0.1µA; therefore it does not drain the battery in vehicles and toys powered by 2 - 4 cell batteries and Li-ion packs.

     The board has solder holes for the +, - supply input, the IN1 - IN4 control inputs and the MOTOR-A, MOTOR-B outputs. The control inputs accept 1.8V - 7V signals; they connect directly to 3.3V and 5V microcontroller outputs.

Key features:

     Two motors, independent control: The MOTOR-A and MOTOR-B outputs are controlled separately by the IN1/IN2 and IN3/IN4 inputs; each motor turns forward, backward or stops. Speed is adjusted with PWM.

     No heatsink, low heating: Thanks to the MOSFET bridge no heatsink is needed at 1.5A continuous current per channel; there is no large heatsink as on classic L298N boards, and the voltage loss in the bridge is much lower.

     Thermal protection: When the motor stalls or is overloaded the IC protects itself, and it returns to operation by itself after cooling down.

     Low voltage for battery vehicles: The 2V - 10V supply range fits 2 - 4 cell NiMH and 1 - 2 cell Li-ion packs; the standby current is below 0.1µA.

     Fits small chassis: At about 24.7mm x 21mm x 7mm it fits small vehicle and toy chassis; it is fixed with its 2mm mounting hole.

Features:

• Product type:    Dual channel DC motor driver module (dual H bridge)
• Model: L298N Mini Modül (MX1508)
• Driver IC: MX1508 (it is not an L298N IC)
• Number of channels: 2 (MOTOR-A, MOTOR-B); 2 DC motors or 1 4-wire 2-phase stepper motor
• Supply voltage: 2V - 10V
• Signal input voltage: 1.8V - 7V (compatible with 3.3V and 5V logic outputs)
• Continuous current: 1.5A per channel
• Peak current: up to 2.5A per channel (short-term)
• Standby current: below 0.1µA
• Speed control: with a PWM signal applied to the IN inputs
• Protection: Built-in thermal protection; restarts by itself after cooling down
• Floating inputs: The motor does not run by itself when the control inputs are left floating
• Heatsink: Not required (MOSFET bridge with low on-resistance)
• Parts on the board: MX1508 IC, 2 pieces 100µF 16V capacitors
• Connection: +, -, IN1, IN2, IN3, IN4, MOTOR-A, MOTOR-B solder holes (no pin headers fitted)
• Compatible boards: Microcontroller boards with 3.3V or 5V logic outputs
• Mounting hole: 2mm
• Color: Red printed circuit board
• Dimensions: about 24.7mm x 21mm x 7mm

Usage information:

• Connect the positive of the battery or adapter to the + hole and the negative to the - hole. Also connect the GND of the control board to the - hole; without a common GND the control signal does not work.
• Connect the first motor to the MOTOR-A terminals and the second motor to MOTOR-B. IN1 / IN2 control MOTOR-A and IN3 / IN4 control MOTOR-B: when one input is high and the other low the motor turns in one direction, reversed it turns the other way; when both inputs are at the same level the motor stops.
• For speed control apply a PWM signal to one of the direction inputs and a fixed level to the other. Soldering a 100nF ceramic capacitor across the motor terminals is recommended to reduce the noise produced by the brushed motor.

Application areas:

•  Car: battery powered smart cars and line following robot vehicles
•  Motor control of toy cars, boats and model vehicles
•  Tank type tracked robot chassis
•  Pump: on-off and speed control of small DC water pumps
•  Fan: speed control of small DC fans
•  Mechanisms with geared DC motors (curtain, door, turntable)
•  Stepper: driving small 4-wire 2-phase stepper motors
•  Obstacle avoiding and remote controlled robots
•  Motor direction and speed tests with a microcontroller
   

Points to consider:

•  Although its name contains L298N, this module uses the MX1508 IC and works with at most 10V. It is not suitable for motors with 12V or higher supply; a classic L298N board is needed for them.
•  Reversing the supply positive and negative terminals will definitely damage the board.
•  The board has thermal protection only; there is no overcurrent or short circuit protection. Thermal protection activates when the motor stalls, but the IC can burn on an output short circuit, when the supply is close to or above 10V and when the current exceeds 2.5A.
•  The board has no current limiting. Use it only with small stepper motors whose winding current at the supply voltage does not exceed 1.5A per channel.

Package contents:

•  1 Piece Mini L298N Motor Driver Module (MX1508)
•  Note: Motor, battery and connection wires are not included in the package.