The standard motor driver for SCUTTLE v2 and v3. Model available with brackets & fasteners if you download the full SCUTTLE CAD model on grabCAD.
Characteristics:
- Output terminals: 4
- Output channels: 2
- Max Voltage input: 40v
- Max current per channel: 5A
- Max power at 12v per channel: 60W (each motor)
- Input signals: 2 pairs of PWM inputs
- Recommended PWM frequency: 100hz or greater, for our motors
- Max wire gauge: 18awg on screw terminals, with ferrule
- Fasteners: M2.5x12mm screws, pan-head (clearance fit through pcb).
Deep Techy Stuff:
Here’s the datasheet for the onboard h-bridges. CAUTION, this is NOT the datasheet for the board. It is for the chip. The board shown above (called HW-231) is an integrated PCB with two h-bridge units (MC33886) and a bit of circuitry for easy access to the most important pins on these chips. The H-bridge is a FET (field effect transistor) or a solid-state transistor which allows or disallows current to flow based on an input condition.
Alternatives:
Can we use the L298N? Yes, you can, but note some drawbacks. Reasons to swap to L298N:
Reasons to use L298N:
- Save money – they’re as cheap as $2 a piece on Amazon
- Find tutorials – millions of sample projects like lastminuteengineers are online.
- Add an actuator – use the same PWM signal pair to add a lower-powered actuator
Reasons NOT to use L298N:
- Reduced power by 60% (only 2A per output versus 5A)
- Need to design your own bracket (rather than just print another)
- Signal wires more messy, splayed out as shown below.
