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Locate the two black jumpers on the board near the screw terminals.
Disclaimer: This datasheet is based on reverse engineering and community documentation. HW-130 is not a branded product; specifications vary by clone manufacturer. Always test with low voltage first.
Document version 1.0 – Free to use, modify, and distribute.
The HW-130 Motor Control Shield is a high-power driver designed to sit directly on an Arduino Uno or Mega. It is based on the L293D dual H-bridge chipset, which is capable of driving various inductive loads like DC motors, steppers, and servos. ⚙️ Technical Specifications
The shield integrates two L293D chips and one 74HC595 shift register to minimize the number of Arduino pins used.
Motor Channels: 4 H-Bridges (can drive 4 DC motors or 2 Stepper motors).
Voltage Range: 4.5V to 25V (supports up to 36V in some chip variants). Current Output: 600mA per channel (1.2A peak).
Servo Support: 2 dedicated 3-pin headers connected to Arduino’s high-resolution timers (Pins 9 and 10).
Thermal Protection: Automatic shutdown if the chip overheats. 🔌 Pinout & Connections
The shield uses a serial-to-parallel latch (74HC595) to control motor directions using only a few digital pins. Arduino Pins Used DC Motor 1 / Stepper 1 Digital 11 Speed / Activation DC Motor 2 / Stepper 1 Speed / Activation DC Motor 3 / Stepper 2 Speed / Activation DC Motor 4 / Stepper 2 Speed / Activation Servo 1 Signal Control Servo 2 Digital 10 Signal Control Shift Register 4, 7, 8, 12 Directional Control
Note: Digital pins 2 and 13, and all Analog pins (A0-A5), are typically left unused and can be used for sensors. 🔋 Power Management There are two main ways to power your setup:
Shared Power: Keep the Power Jumper installed. Power supplied to the Arduino (via DC jack) will also power the motors. Warning: This can cause resets if motors pull too much current.
Separate Power (Recommended): Remove the Power Jumper. Connect an external battery/supply (up to 25V) to the EXT_PWR terminal blocks. This keeps motor noise away from the Arduino logic. 🛠️ Getting Started (Code)
To use this shield, you must install the AFMotor library (Adafruit Motor Shield V1 library). Simple DC Motor Example: Controlling 12V DC Motors with L293D | PDF - Scribd
HW-130 Motor Control Shield (also widely known as the L293D Motor Driver Shield
) is a classic entry-point for makers building robots with an Arduino Uno
. Here is a story of a typical project development using this hardware. The Spark: A DIY Robot Car
A student decides to build their first 4-wheel robotic car. They choose the HW-130 shield because it "shields" the hw 130 motor control shield for arduino datasheet free
from the high power demands of motors that would otherwise "brown out" the microcontroller. The Setup: Mapping the Hardware The student consults the L293D Shield Datasheet to understand the pinout and power requirements: Motor Capacity : It can handle up to 4 DC motors 2 stepper motors : Two L293D dual H-bridge chips provide per channel ( peak) and handle voltages from : It uses a 74HC595 shift register
to expand just a few Arduino pins into eight motor control lines. The Build: Wiring and Power : The shield is pressed directly onto the Arduino Uno External Power : To avoid damaging the Arduino, the student removes the power jumper and connects a separate battery to the shield's terminals. : Four DC motors are screwed into the terminals labeled M1, M2, M3, and M4 The Code: Bringing it to Life The student installs the AFMotor Library . They write a simple loop: Connect boards, shields, and carriers - Arduino Help Center
The HW-130 Motor Control Shield is a popular L293D-based expansion board designed for the Arduino Uno and Mega. It is widely used in robotics due to its "plug-and-play" design, allowing users to control multiple motors with minimal wiring.
Below is a technical overview based on the standard HW-130 datasheet details and user documentation. 1. Key Features & Capabilities
Motor Support: Can drive up to 4 bi-directional DC motors or 2 stepper motors (unipolar or bipolar).
Servo Control: Includes 2 dedicated 3-pin headers for 5V hobby servos connected to the Arduino’s high-resolution timers.
Driver Chipset: Uses two L293D quadruple H-bridge drivers and one 74HC595 shift register for serial-to-parallel pin expansion.
Output Power: Provides 0.6A per bridge (1.2A peak) with thermal shutdown protection.
Voltage Range: Operates with motor supplies from 4.5V to 12V (though the L293D chip itself can technically handle up to 36V). 2. Technical Specifications L293D Based Arduino Motor Shield
The HW-130 motor control shield (frequently referred to as the L293D Motor Shield) is a versatile, entry-level driver for Arduino Uno and Mega. It is essentially a "clone" or derivative of the original Adafruit Motor Shield v1 design. Key Specifications
Driver Chips: Uses two L293D H-bridge drivers and one 74HC595 shift register to save Arduino pins.
Current Limits: Supports 600mA continuous current per channel (1.2A peak).
Voltage Range: Operates from 4.5V to 36V for motors (Logic voltage is 5V). Output Capacity: Up to 4 bi-directional DC motors. Up to 2 stepper motors (unipolar or bipolar). Up to 2 servo motors via dedicated 3-pin headers. Technical Review Adafruit Motor Shield
The HW-130 motor control shield is a popular, budget-friendly driver module based on the classic L293D chipset. It allows Arduino enthusiasts to drive multiple motors simultaneously without complex wiring. Technical Specifications & Features
The HW-130 is a high-current, high-voltage quadruple line driver. It is designed to provide bidirectional drive currents of up to 600-mA at voltages from 4.5 V to 36 V. Chipset: Dual L293D Motor Driver ICs.
Output Channels: 4 H-Bridges for DC motors or 2 Stepper motors. Current Limit: 600mA per channel (1.2A peak). Voltage Range: 4.5V to 36V DC. Servo Headers: 2 dedicated ports for 5V hobby servos.
Protection: Built-in thermal shutdown and internal ESD protection. Reset Button: Onboard button for Arduino system reset. Pinout and Hardware Configuration Locate the two black jumpers on the board
The shield is designed to "piggyback" directly onto an Arduino Uno or Mega. Motor Connections M1, M2, M3, M4: Screw terminals for DC motors. Stepper 1: Uses M1 and M2 terminals. Stepper 2: Uses M3 and M4 terminals. Servo 1 & 2: Standard 3-pin headers (GND, 5V, Signal). Power Management EXT_PWR Terminals: External power input for motors.
Power Jumper: Removing the jumper separates the Arduino logic power from the motor power (highly recommended to prevent noise). Using the HW-130 with Arduino
To get the most out of this shield, it is best used with the AFMotor.h library. Basic Code Example for DC Motor
#include Use code with caution. Key Benefits for Hobbyists
🚀 Ease of Use: No breadboard required; just plug and play.
📉 Cost Effective: One of the cheapest ways to control 4 DC motors.
🤖 Versatility: Ideal for 4WD robot chassis and small robotic arms.
📚 Community Support: Vast amounts of open-source libraries and tutorials. Safety and Best Practices
Heat Management: The L293D chips can get hot. If running near 600mA, consider adding small stick-on heatsinks.
Separate Power: Always use an external battery pack for the motor terminals. USB power is usually insufficient for multiple motors.
Polarity: Double-check the + and - on the EXT_PWR block. Reversing polarity can fry the L293D chips instantly.
What is your power source? (9V battery, Li-ion, Wall adapter?)
Are you building a specific project, like a car or a robotic arm?
I can provide a custom wiring diagram or a complete code sketch for your specific robot!
The HW-130 doesn’t have its own official datasheet – it’s a shield based on the L298N:
Headline: Wiring up the HW-130? Here is the manual you’re missing.
Body: Just picked up an HW-130 Motor Control Shield for an upcoming robotics project. It’s a great, cheap shield for driving two DC motors (or one stepper) based on the L298P driver. 5V Jumper (Servo Power):
However, the specific pin mapping isn't always obvious if you don't have the schematic. If you are looking for the official HW-130 Datasheet, I’ve uploaded a free copy for reference.
Key Spec Highlights: ✅ Dual H-Bridge (L298P) ✅ 2A Max Current per channel ✅ PWM Speed Control ready
[Click here for the free datasheet download]
Let me know in the comments if you need help with the code snippet to get it running!
Here is a free, ready-to-use code snippet to test the HW-130 shield. This code will accelerate Motor A forward, then reverse, and stop.
// HW-130 Motor Shield Pin Definitions #define M1_SPEED 3 // PWM Pin for Motor A Speed #define M1_DIR 12 // Direction Pin for Motor A #define M2_SPEED 11 // PWM Pin for Motor B Speed #define M2_DIR 13 // Direction Pin for Motor Bvoid setup() // Configure pins as outputs pinMode(M1_SPEED, OUTPUT); pinMode(M1_DIR, OUTPUT);
// Optional: If your board uses Brake pins (D8/D9) // pinMode(9, OUTPUT); digitalWrite(9, HIGH); // Disable Brake M1
void loop() // --- Motor A Forward Acceleration --- digitalWrite(M1_DIR, HIGH); // Set Direction Forward
// Accelerate from 0 to full speed for (int speed = 0; speed <= 255; speed++) analogWrite(M1_SPEED, speed); delay(20);
delay(1000); // Run at full speed for 1 second
// --- Stop --- analogWrite(M1_SPEED, 0); delay(1000);
// --- Motor A Reverse --- digitalWrite(M1_DIR, LOW); // Set Direction Reverse
// Run at half speed analogWrite(M1_SPEED, 128); delay(2000);
// Stop analogWrite(M1_SPEED, 0); delay(2000);
The HW-130 is a low-cost, dual H-bridge motor driver shield compatible with Arduino Uno, Leonardo, and Mega. It lets you control two DC motors (speed + direction) or one stepper motor independently.
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