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3. Getting started
3.1. Choosing the power supply and motor
The information in this section can help you select a
[https://www.pololu.com/category/84/
regulators-and-power-supplies]
and
[https://www.pololu.com/category/22/motors-and-gearboxes]
that will
work with the Motoron.
The Motoron is designed to work with
brushed DC motors
. These motors have two terminals such
that when a DC voltage is applied to the terminals, the motor spins.
When selecting the components of your system, you will need to consider the voltage and current
ratings of each component:
• The
voltage range of your power supply
is the range of voltages you expect your power
supply to produce while operating. There is usually some variation in the output voltage so
you should treat it as a range instead of just a single number. In particular, keep in mind that a
fully-charged battery might have a voltage that is significantly higher than its nominal voltage.
• The
current limit of a power supply
is how much current the power supply can provide.
Note that the power supply will not force this amount of current through your system; the
properties of the system and the voltage of the power supply determine how much current
will flow, but there is a limit to how much current the power supply can provide.
• The
operating voltage range of a Motoron
is the range of voltages that can be supplied
to the Motoron’s VIN and GND pins, which power the motors. The operating voltage range
of the Motoron M3S256 and M3H256 is
4.5 V to 48 V
. The Motoron requires a DC power
supply.
• The
continuous current per motor of a Motoron
is the maximum amount of current that
the Motoron can continuously provide to each motor. The continuous current per phase of
the Motoron M3S256 and M3H256 is
2.0 A
.
• The
rated voltage of a DC motor
is the voltage at which the DC motor was designed to run.
You can apply voltages to the motor that are higher or lower than its rated voltage, but higher
voltages bring a risk of overheating the motor or reducing its lifetime.
• The
no-load current of a DC motor
is the current that the motor will draw if you apply the
rated voltage to the motor while its output is not connected to anything.
• The
stall current of a DC motor
is the current that the motor will draw if you apply the rated
voltage to the motor while forcing its output shaft to remain stationary.
There are guidelines you should be aware of when selecting the components of your system:
1. The voltage of your power supply should generally be greater than or equal to the rated
Pololu Motoron Motor Controller User’s Guide
© 2001–2022 Pololu Corporation
3. Getting started
Page 12 of 67