Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Bumbolt on December 12, 2012, 08:28:32 AM

Title: Relay shield to controll small dc motors?
Post by: Bumbolt on December 12, 2012, 08:28:32 AM

I'm planning to buy a small platform to experiment with robotics. I found this one (http://iprototype.be/products/robotics/platforms/robot-a4wd (http://iprototype.be/products/robotics/platforms/robot-a4wd)) now this doesn't include a motor controller. I already own a chipkit (= arduino uno) and the relay shield for arduino.

Now i want to control the small motors by using this relay shield. Is there any danger in doing it that way? (could save me the money of buying a motor controller)

Title: Re: Relay shield to controll small dc motors?
Post by: Soeren on December 12, 2012, 04:19:45 PM

Hi,

Quote from: Bumbolt on December 12, 2012, 08:28:32 AM

Now i want to control the small motors by using this relay shield. Is there any danger in doing it that way? (could save me the money of buying a motor controller)

If the relays can handle the current of the motor(s), which they probably can (I don't know what relay board you're thinking of), The only drawback is that you only have full speed or no speed.

If you can follow a schematic and solder together a few components, you can add speed control to the relay board, but you'll need an I/O line for controlling each (assuming 4 circuits).

Each wheel has got an encoder, so you need four more I/O's to read them.

Title: Re: Relay shield to controll small dc motors?
Post by: Bumbolt on December 20, 2012, 06:31:48 PM

Thx for this reply i will do this just to experiment with the making my own electronics. It seems a pretty simple circuit to make.

For now i decided to spend the extra 15 euros since the total made the shipping free the controller actually only costs me 5 euro :)

Title: Re: Relay shield to controll small dc motors?
Post by: Soeren on December 21, 2012, 10:36:51 PM

Smart move ;D