Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi (No Connectors or Standoffs)

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 supports motor supply voltages from 4.5 V to 48 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 2 A per motor. The M3H256 is designed to stack on top of a Raspberry Pi (Model B+ or newer), similar to a HAT (Hardware Attached on Top), and 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 #5035

This Motoron version is just the assembled PCB module as shown above, with no connectors or mounting hardware included. This version is intended for those who mostly want to solder wires directly to the board or use different connectors from those included with other versions. We have a variety of connectors available separately.

Features and specifications

• Three motor control channels allow for independent control of up to three bidirectional brushed DC motors per Motoron
• Wide motor supply voltage range: 4.5 V to 48 V (absolute maximum)
  • Recommended maximum nominal battery voltage is approximately 36 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: 3.0 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 using the Motoron with Python or MicroPython
• Comprehensive user’s guide

The Motoron family

The tables below list the members of the Motoron family and show the key differences among them. Each type is available in several versions to provide different options for the through-hole connectors: they can be purchased as an assembled product with connectors soldered in, as a kit with connectors included but not soldered in, or (for Arduino and Raspberry Pi expansions) as a standalone board without connectors.

Motoron motor controllers micro versions
	M1T550 M1U550	M2T550 M2U550	M1T256 M1U256	M2T256 M2U256
Control interface:	I²C or UART serial
Motor channels:	1 (single)	2 (dual)	1 (single)	2 (dual)
Minimum motor supply voltage:	1.8 V		4.5 V
Absolute max motor supply voltage:	22 V		48 V
Recommended max nominal battery voltage:	16 V		36 V
Max continuous current per channel:	1.8 A	1.6 A	2.2 A	1.8 A
Logic voltage range:	3.0 V to 4.9 V(1)		3.0 V to 5.5 V
Current sensing/limiting:	–	–	–	–
Available versions with I²C:	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included
Available verions with UART serial:	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included	headers soldered headers included
Price:	$14.24 – $16.19	$18.67 – $20.69	$19.71 – $21.72	$28.72 – $30.73
1 The M1x550 and M2x550 are not recommended for use with 5V nominal logic.

Motoron motor controllers Arduino and Raspberry Pi form factor versions
	M3S550 M3H550	M3S256 M3H256	M2S24v14 M2H24v14	M2S24v16 M2H24v16	M2S18v18 M2H18v18	M2S18v20 M2H18v20
Control interface:	I²C
Motor channels:	3 (triple)		2 (dual)
Minimum motor supply voltage:	1.8 V	4.5 V	6.5 V
Absolute max motor supply voltage:	22 V	48 V	40 V		30 V
Recommended max nominal battery voltage:	16 V	36 V	28 V		18 V
Max continuous current per channel:	1.7 A	2 A	14 A	16 A	18 A	20 A
Logic voltage range:	M3S550 3.1 V to 5.5 V	3.0 V to 5.5 V	3.0 V to 5.5 V
	M3H550 3.0 V to 4.9 V(1)
Current sensing/limiting:	–	–
Available versions for Arduino:	M3S550 assembled kit board only	M3S256 assembled kit board only	M2S24v14 assembled kit board only	M2S24v16 assembled kit board only	M2S18v18 assembled kit board only	M2S18v20 assembled kit board only
Available versions for Raspberry Pi:	M3H550 assembled kit board only	M3H256 assembled kit board only	M2H24v14 assembled kit board only	M2H24v16 assembled kit board only	M2H18v18 assembled kit board only	M2H18v20 assembled kit board only
Price:	$25.26 – $36.14	$42.01 – $52.94	$71.67 – $83.56	$96.51 – $108.41	$71.67 – $83.56	$96.51 – $108.41
1 The M3H550 is not recommended for use with 5V nominal logic.

Dimensions

General specifications

Identifying markings

Notes:

1

Absolute maximum; higher voltages can permanently destroy the motor drivers. Recommended maximum nominal battery voltage is approximately 36 V, which leaves a safety margin for ripple voltage on the supply line.

2

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

Documentation and other information

• 

  Pololu Motoron Motor Controller User’s Guide

  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 Python/MicroPython