L298N 2A Dual Motor Driver Module for Arduino and Raspberry Pi

Specifications:

• Driver Chip: L298N Dual DC Motor Driver IC
  
• Driven Motor Voltage: 5V to 35V DC
  
• Peak Drive Current: 2A per bridge / channel
  
• Continuous Drive Current: 1.2A per bridge / channel
  
• Logic Voltage: 5V DC
  
• Logic Current Consumption: 0mA to 36mA
  
• Maximum Power Dissipation: 20W (at 75°C with onboard heatsink)
  
• Control Signal Input Level: High 2.3V ≤ Vin ≤ 5V, Low -0.3V ≤ Vin ≤ 1.5V
  
• Onboard Regulator: LM7805 5V Low-Dropout Regulator (can power external microcontrollers if motor supply is >7V)
  
• Dimensions: 43mm x 43mm x 27mm

Key Applications

• Warehouse Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs): Driving high-torque yellow industrial DC geared motors.
  
• Smart IoT Irrigation Systems: Powering small 12V peristaltic fluid pumps or water solenoid valves.
  
• Academic Robotics Platforms: Serving as the absolute baseline for 2WD and 4WD line-following or obstacle-avoidance cars.

Project Evolution

• Past Projects (Prerequisites): If you have already mastered turning basic LEDs on and off, or pulling small 5V SG90 micro-servos with direct microcontroller pins, you are ready to scale up. Direct GPIO pins cannot handle heavy current loads.
  
• Feature Upgrade: Integrating this L298N module unlocks high-power DC motor operation, variable speed control via Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and bidirectional rotation changes. It acts as the muscular power bridge for your projects.
  
• Effort & Requirements: Intermediate level. Requires a separate external power supply (like a 12V Li-ion battery pack) to deliver motor power while isolating logic signals.

Virtual Technician & Wiring

⚠️ CRITICAL VOLTAGE WARNING: Always ensure you share a common ground (GND) between your microcontroller and the L298N module. If the motor voltage exceeds 12V, you MUST remove the onboard "5V EN" jumper to prevent thermal damage to the integrated LM7805 regulator.

Pin Mapping Guide

• VMS (12V Terminal): Connect to your positive (+) motor power supply (7V - 35V).
  
• GND Terminal: Connect to the negative (-) battery terminal AND your microcontroller's GND pin.
  
• 5V Terminal: Outputs 5V if the 5V jumper is intact (useful for powering an Arduino). Inputs 5V if the jumper is removed.
  
• OUT1 & OUT2: Connect directly to Motor A terminals.
  
• OUT3 & OUT4: Connect directly to Motor B terminals.
  
• ENA: Speed control for Motor A (Remove jumper to apply external PWM signal).
  
• ENB: Speed control for Motor B (Remove jumper to apply external PWM signal).
  
• IN1 & IN2: Direction logic pins for Motor A (High/Low controls direction).
  
• IN3 & IN4: Direction logic pins for Motor B (High/Low controls direction).

​Packages include:

1 x L298N 2A Dual Motor Driver Module for Arduino and Raspberry Pi

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is my L298N motor driver dropping voltage so heavily?
   The L298N uses internal bipolar transistors which have an inherent voltage drop of about 1.4V to 2V between input and output.
2. How do I control the speed of a DC motor using L298N?
   Remove the ENA/ENB jumpers and supply an external PWM signal from your microcontroller to those specific pins.
3. Can I run an ESP32 safely with L298N module logic?
   Yes. While the ESP32 is a 3.3V device, the L298N inputs accept 3.3V logic signals as a logic "High" reliably.
4. What happens if I forget to connect the grounds together?
   The motors will spin erratic or fail to move entirely because the control signals lack a reference voltage path.
5. How many stepper motors can an L298N control?
   It can control exactly one 4-wire, two-phase bipolar stepper motor.
6. Can I drive two separate motors at different speeds?
   Yes, by sending independent PWM signals to ENA and ENB control pins.
7. Is it normal for the aluminum heatsink to get very hot?
   Yes, the L298N dissipates excess voltage as thermal energy. Keep it under 2A to avoid thermal shutdown.
8. Why is my motor making a high-pitched buzzing noise?
   Your PWM frequency is too low or high. Adjust your microcontroller's PWM frequency registry to optimize it.
9. When should I remove the 5V onboard jumper?
   Remove it immediately if your motor input voltage (VMS) exceeds 12V to preserve the regulator chip.
10. Can I use the 5V terminal to power my Arduino Uno?
    Yes, as long as the 5V jumper is attached and your VMS input voltage is between 7V and 12V.
11. What is the maximum current limit for this specific board?
    The absolute peak is 2A per channel, but it is highly recommended to run it at a continuous 1.2A maximum.
12. Why does my motor spin backward when I send a forward command?
    Simply swap the two wires connected to the OUT1/OUT2 or OUT3/OUT4 terminal blocks.
13. Can I connect two motors in parallel to one channel?
    Yes, provided the combined current draw of both parallel motors does not exceed 1.2A continuously.
14. Does the L298N have short-circuit protection?
    No, it does not feature integrated short-circuit protection. Shorting the output terminals will fry the IC.
15. What is the difference between L298N and L293D drivers?
    The L298N handles significantly higher current (2A vs 600mA) and includes a heavy-duty heatsink.
16. How do I brake a motor instantly using this module?
    Set both logic inputs for that channel to the same state (either both HIGH or both LOW).
17. Can I use a 24V industrial power supply with this driver?
    Yes, but ensure the onboard 5V jumper is removed before turning on the power supply.
18. Why are the onboard LEDs not lighting up?
    Verify that your VMS voltage is above 7V and that the ground terminal is completely secured.
19. What libraries do I need to use this with Raspberry Pi?
    No specific libraries are needed; you can toggle standard RPi.GPIO or gpiozero output pins.
20. Is this driver compatible with coreless micro motors?
    It is compatible, but because coreless motors require high frequencies, thermal losses might increase