1 Topic by Martin

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Topic: How does L298N drive 4 DC motors?

How does the L298N drive 4 DC motors? There is a method on the Internet that the two motors on the left connected to out1 and out2 of the L298N in parallel. The same is true for the two motors on the right. Why? Can L298N drive 4 motors? Doesn't it mean that L298N can only drive 2 motors at the same time?

2 Reply by remotexy

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Re: How does L298N drive 4 DC motors?

Two motors rotation in both directions or four motors rotation in one direction

3 Reply by Gunner (edited by Gunner 2021-05-23 01:47:59)

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Re: How does L298N drive 4 DC motors?

Martin wrote:

Why? Can L298N drive 4 motors?

Can it?... yessss... and no... It can only control two reversible outputs for DC motors, or 4 ON/OFF signals in the case of a stepper motor.

As for why it is sometimes shown with 4 motors... it is more a case of convenience/traction for the many 4-wheel drive chassis out there that have a motor on each wheel.

But in reality, since each side has the motors in parallel, the driver board is still only offering bi-directional control of two (sides), and any controlling software is "thinking" it has only two motors.

https://www.14core.com/wiring-driving-t … dc-motors/

You could even use 6 or 8 motors in this way as well (3 or 4 per side)... The real limitation is the current draw of the motors vs the current output of the driver (typically 2A max per channel/side for L298N)

Now... If you wanted to drive each of the 4 motors independently (and bi-directionally) as with mecanum/omni wheel rovers, then use two driver boards.

"And voila, which is French for.......'and then I found out.'" - Ready Player One