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Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller

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Pololu item #: 5067
Brand: Pololu
Status: Active and Preferred 

The Motoron M2U256 Dual I²C Motor Controller offers a compact solution for controlling two DC motors using a UART serial interface. Multiple Motoron controllers can be connected to the same serial bus, making it easy to expand a system with additional motors. The M2U256 supports motor supply voltages from 4.5 V to 48 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 1.8 A per motor. This version ships with header pins included but not soldered in.

Alternatives available with variations in these parameter(s): control interface header pins soldered? Select variant…

Compare all products in Motoron M2x256 Dual Motor Controllers.

Pictures

Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller.

Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller, top view.

Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller, bottom view with dimensions.

Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller with included headers.

Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller, bottom view.

A Raspberry Pi Pico on a breadboard using a Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller to control two motors.

Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller pinout.

Typical wiring diagram for connecting a microcontroller to a Motoron M2U256/M2U550 Dual Serial Motor Controller.

Standard packaging for the Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller.

Overview

The Motoron M2T256 and M2U256 controllers make it easy to control two bidirectional, brushed DC motors using an I²C or TTL serial (UART) interface, respectively. These compact (0.6″ × 0.8″) boards support motor supply voltages from 4.5 V to 48 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 1.8 A per motor. Multiple Motoron controllers can be configured to work on a single I²C or serial bus, allowing independent control of many motors. Unlike most of our motor drivers, the Motoron does not require any PWM outputs or timers on your microcontroller. Instead, only a single I²C or UART interface is needed regardless of how many Motorons you connect.

These Motoron controllers are available in several versions with different combinations of communication interfaces and connector options:

• M2T256 (I²C):
  • headers soldered
  • headers included but not soldered in
• M2U256 (TTL serial):
  • headers soldered
  • headers included but not soldered in

For smaller single-channel alternatives, consider the Motoron M1T256 and M1U256.

Details for item #5067

Typical wiring diagram for connecting a microcontroller to a Motoron M2U256/M2U550 Dual Serial Motor Controller.

The M2U256 has a non-inverted TTL serial (UART) interface, and this version ships with a 1×16 breakaway male header included but not soldered in.

Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller with included headers.

Motoron M2U256 Dual Serial Motor Controller, bottom view.

Features and specifications

• Two motor control channels allow for independent control of up to two 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: 1.8 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:
  • M2T256: I²C (up to 400 kHz)
  • M2U256: non-inverted TTL serial (up to 250 kbps)
• 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 Motoron stops receiving commands
• Configurable automatic error response
• Motor power supply (VIN) voltage measurement
• Two status LEDs
• Motor direction indicator LEDs
• Error output for easier detection of error conditions
• Motoron Arduino library simplifies using the Motoron with an Arduino or compatible controller
• Motoron Python library simplifies using the Motoron with Python or MicroPython
• Comprehensive user’s guide
• Compact 0.6″ × 0.8″ size

A Raspberry Pi Pico on a breadboard using a Motoron M2T256/M2U256 Dual Motor Controller to control two motors.

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:	$12.49 – $14.49	$15.95 – $17.95	$16.95 – $18.95	$23.95 – $25.95
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:	$20.95 – $30.95	$34.95 – $44.95	$59.95 – $69.95	$79.95 – $89.95	$59.95 – $69.95	$95.95 – $104.95
1 The M3H550 is not recommended for use with 5V nominal logic.

Frequently-asked questions

No FAQs available.

On the blog

• 

  New products: Motoron M2T256 (I²C) and M2U256 (UART) dual motor controllers

  by Kevin - 21 December 2022

  The Motoron family keeps growing! We’re happy to announce the release of the Motoron M2T256 Dual I²C Motor Controller and the Motoron M2U256 Dual...