Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller Kit for Raspberry Pi

Overview

The Motoron M3H256 add-on board makes it easy to control up to three bidirectional, brushed DC motors with a compatible Raspberry Pi (Model B+ or newer). It operates from 4.5 V to 48 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 2 A per motor. Multiple Motoron controllers can be stacked on top of each other, allowing independent control of many motors. Unlike most of our motor drivers and motor driver expansion boards for Raspberry Pi, the Motoron does not require any PWM outputs on your Raspberry Pi. Instead, the Raspberry Pi communicates with the Motoron using I²C, so only two GPIO pins are needed regardless of how many Motorons you connect.

Three M3H256 versions are available to provide different options for the through-hole connectors:

• Motoron M3H256 with soldered stackable headers and terminal blocks
• Motoron M3H256 with headers and terminal blocks included but not soldered in
• Motoron M3H256 without any headers, terminal blocks, or mounting hardware included

For applications using an Arduino or compatible controller, consider the Motoron M3S256 instead (also available with different connector options).

Details for item #5034

This version of the Motoron is a kit that ships with the following connectors included but not soldered in:

• Two 1×10 stackable female headers (or one 2×10 header)
• Four 2-pin 3.5mm terminal blocks
• Four 2-pin 5mm screw terminal blocks
• One 1×25 breakaway male header (you can cut or break this into smaller header strips to install as desired)

It also includes a set of two M2.5 standoffs (11 mm length), screws, and nuts that can be used to secure the board at the proper height for the GPIO connector.

There are more connectors included than can be soldered to the board, providing different assembly options to suit a variety of applications. Additional connector options are available separately, and you can also solder wires directly to the board for more compact installations.

Note: For applications where the Motoron will be used as a standalone board or at the top of an add-on board stack, it can be assembled with the included 0.1″ male header pins and larger (5.0mm-pitch) blue terminal blocks. For applications where the Motoron will be one of the intermediate members of a stack of add-on boards, we recommend assembling it with the stackable headers and smaller (3.5mm-pitch) green terminal blocks (just like our version with connectors already soldered). The terminal blocks are intended to be soldered to the larger through-holes for the power and motor connections, and the blue ones should get locked together prior to installation (see our short video on terminal block installation).

Features and specifications

• Three motor control channels allow for independent control of up to three bidirectional brushed DC motors per Motoron
• Wide operating voltage range: 4.5 V to 48 V
• Maximum output current per motor: 2.0 A continuous, 6.4 A peak for <1 second
• Reverse-voltage protection on motor power supply (down to -40 V)
• Logic voltage range: 2.8 V to 5.5 V
• Control interface: I²C
• I²C clock speed: up to 400 kHz
• Optional cyclic redundancy checking (CRC)
• Configurable motion parameters:
  • Max acceleration/deceleration forward/reverse
  • Starting speed forward/reverse
  • Direction change delay forward/reverse
• PWM frequency: eight options available from 1 kHz to 80 kHz
• Command timeout feature stops motors if the Raspberry Pi stops communicating
• Configurable automatic error response
• Motor power supply (VIN) voltage measurement
• Optional pins make it easy to power the Raspberry Pi from reverse-protected motor power through an external regulator (not included)
• Two status LEDs
• Motor direction indicator LEDs
• Motoron Python library simplifies getting started using the Motoron with an Arduino or compatible controller
• Comprehensive user’s guide

Dimensions

General specifications

Identifying markings

Notes:

1

PCB assembly only, without optional included headers, terminal blocks, or standoffs.

2

Not recommended for use with 48V batteries.

3

Note: Reverse voltage protection only works up to 40 V.

Documentation and other information

• 

  Pololu Motoron Motor Controller User’s Guide (Printable PDF)

  User’s manual for the Pololu Motoron Motor Controllers.

File downloads

• Dimension diagram of the Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi (314k pdf)

• 3D model of the Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi (14MB step)

• Drill guide for the Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi (119k dxf)

  This DXF drawing shows the locations of all of the board’s holes.

Recommended links

• Motoron Motor Controller Python library for Raspberry Pi