How to Choose a Motor Driver for Your Robot
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Your Arduino can't power a motor directly — it needs a motor driver in between to handle the current. But with names like L298N, TB6612, and A4988 flying around, which do you need? It comes down to one thing: what kind of motor are you driving?
First, know your motor
- DC motors — spin continuously; used for wheels and fans.
- Servo motors — move to a precise angle; usually need no separate driver (they take a signal directly).
- Stepper motors — move in precise steps; used for CNC, 3D printers, and accurate positioning.
Drivers for DC motors
| Driver | Notes |
|---|---|
| L298N | The classic, beginner-friendly dual driver. Runs 2 DC motors. A little inefficient (drops voltage), but rugged and everywhere. |
| TB6612FNG | A modern, efficient L298N replacement — cooler, smaller, less voltage loss. Great for battery robots. |
Drivers for stepper motors
| Driver | Notes |
|---|---|
| A4988 | The standard for NEMA 17 steppers (3D printers, CNC). Adjustable current, micro-stepping. |
| DRV8825 | Higher current and finer micro-stepping than the A4988 — for more demanding steppers. |
| ULN2003 | The little board that ships with the 28BYJ-48 stepper — cheap and perfect for light, slow motion. |
The two rules that matter
- Match the driver's current rating to the motor. The driver must handle the motor's stall current, or it overheats.
- Power the motor separately. Motors draw far more than a board can supply — give them their own battery or supply, and share a common ground.
Get this right and your robot moves smoothly; get it wrong and you'll cook a driver. Browse drivers and motors together in Motors, or grab a complete, correctly-matched build from Robotics & Motion — every kit ships with the right driver and power already worked out. Unsure what your build needs? Ask VoltIQ.