Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller Kit for Raspberry Pi

Pololu item #: 5034
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Active and Preferred 
RoHS 3 compliant

Price break Unit price (US$)
1 40.95
5 37.67
25 34.66
100 31.89


backorders allowed

The Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller makes it easy to control DC motors from a Raspberry Pi (Model B+ or newer) through an I²C interface. Each module can independently control up to three motors, and multiple Motoron boards can be stacked on top of the same Raspberry Pi for projects that need to control even more motors. The M3H256 supports motor supply voltages from 4.5 V to 48 V and can deliver continuous output currents up to 2 A per motor. This version ships with a variety of header pin and terminal block options included but not soldered in.

 Description Specs (15) Pictures (13) Resources (5) FAQs (0) On the blog (1) 

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:

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

Details for item #5034

Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller Kit for Raspberry Pi.

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

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).

An Arduino Micro on a breadboard using a Motoron M3H256 to control three motors.

A Motoron M3H256 being controlled by a Raspberry Pi.

Motoron M3H256 or M3H550 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi pinout.

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:
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.

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Related Categories

Motoron M3H256 Triple Motor Controller for Raspberry Pi
Motoron Motor Controllers
Motoron M2H Dual High-Power Motor Controllers for Raspberry Pi
Motoron M3S256 Triple Motor Controller Shield for Arduino
Raspberry Pi Expansion Boards
Motors and Gearboxes
Brushed DC Motor Drivers
Voltage Regulators
Premium Jumper Wires
Wires with Pre-Crimped Terminals
Solderless Breadboards
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