Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (No Connectors)

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Pololu item #: 5070
Brand: Pololu
Status: Active and Preferred 
RoHS 3 compliant


The Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino makes it easy to control DC motors from an Arduino or Arduino-compatible board through an I²C interface. Each module can independently control up to three motors, and multiple shields can be stacked on top of the same Arduino for projects that need to control even more motors. The M3S550 supports motor supply voltages from 1.8 V to 22 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 1.7 A per motor. This version is just the motor controller by itself, without any header pins or terminal blocks included.

Pictures

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (No Connectors).

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino, top view.

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield Kit for Arduino, bottom view with dimensions.

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield Kit for Arduino, assembled with the larger (5mm-pitch) blue terminal blocks.

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (Connectors Soldered).

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (Connectors Soldered).

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (Connectors Soldered), top view.

Motoron M3S550 shield being controlled by an Arduino Uno.

A Raspberry Pi Pico on a breadboard using a Motoron M3S550 shield to control three motors.

Three Motoron M3S550 shields being controlled by an Arduino Uno.

Three Motoron M3S256 or M3S550 shields attached to an Arduino Uno, showing the spacing of the 3.5 mm terminal blocks.

Using the Motoron M3S256 or M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield with an Arduino.

Motoron M3S256 or M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield pinout.




Overview

The Motoron M3S550 shield makes it easy to control up to three bidirectional, brushed DC motors with an Arduino or compatible board, such as the A-Star 32U4 Prime. It supports motor supply voltages from 1.8 V to 22 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 1.7 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 shields, the Motoron does not require any PWM outputs or timers on your Arduino. Instead, the Arduino communicates with the Motoron using I²C, so only two I/O lines are needed regardless of how many Motorons you connect.

Three M3S550 versions are available to provide different options for the through-hole connectors:

For applications using a Raspberry Pi, consider the Motoron M3H550 instead (also available with different connector options).

Details for item #5070

Motoron M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino (No Connectors).

This version of the Motoron M3S550 is just the assembled PCB module as shown above, with no connectors included. This version is intended for those who 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.

A Raspberry Pi Pico on a breadboard using a Motoron M3S550 shield to control three motors.

Motoron M3S550 shield being controlled by an Arduino Uno.

Motoron M3S256 or M3S550 Triple Motor Controller Shield pinout.

Features and specifications

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:
Available verions
with UART serial:
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 M3S256 M2S24v14 M2S24v16 M2S18v18 M2S18v20
Available versions
for Raspberry Pi:
M3H550 M3H256 M2H24v14 M2H24v16 M2H18v18 M2H18v20
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.

Dimensions

Size: 1.3″ × 2.02″
Weight: 7 g

General specifications

Channels: 3
Model: Motoron M3S550
Control interface: I²C
Minimum operating voltage: 1.8 V
Maximum operating voltage: 22 V
Continuous output current per channel: 1.7 A
Peak output current per channel: 5 A
Minimum logic voltage: 3.1 V
Maximum logic voltage: 5.5 V1
Reverse voltage protection?: Y2
Connectors soldered?: N

Identifying markings

PCB dev codes: mc3s44a
Other PCB markings: 0J13968

Notes:

1
The IOREF pin should be between 3.1 V and 5.5 V: it supplies an LDO that produces the logic voltage, which is typically 3.3 V. The board is compatible with 3.3 V and 5 V I²C busses.
2
Reverse voltage protection only works up to 20 V.

Documentation and other information

File downloads

Recommended links

Frequently-asked questions

No FAQs available.

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