1
\$\begingroup\$

I'm trying to power this unipolar stepper motor (wire color: black, brown, red, orange, yellow in that order):

enter image description here

using this motor driver breakout board:

enter image description here

Here are some pictures of the setup:

enter image description here

enter image description here

And a wiring diagram: enter image description here

Just for reference, the lights saying CV and OUT are turned on:

enter image description here

Please tell me if there's anything else I can include to be helpful.

Some people have asked for a schematic, but I have no idea how to make one of those in the built-in tool, especially one that includes the chip I'm using. Sorry if it leaves a hole in the information I'm providing.

I wired everything exactly as indicated on the website for the motor driver breakout board, except using Raspberry Pi instead of Arduino. When I turned on my power supply (KORAD KA3005D), it showed a big fat 0 in the current (recent development: the ampage will drive up to .3-.4 A for several seconds but stays at 0 70% of the time). I don't understand why this fluctuation. Could this be a problem with the power supply itself? The chip? My soldering on the chip? My cables? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Related problem I'm hoping someone can help me figure out why the motor itself won't spin. When I manage to activate my code when there's a current, the motor vibrates and gets hot but doesn't spin.

\$\endgroup\$
10
  • \$\begingroup\$ Can you power anything else with it? What happens if you short the PSU, does current limiting work? \$\endgroup\$
    – Wesley Lee
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ @WesleyLee When I short it the current limiting does work. I'm sorry, I'm not experienced with EE, what could I try to power with it without making a complex circuit? \$\endgroup\$
    – NeonCop
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:34
  • 4
    \$\begingroup\$ You seem to have left the STBY pin on your motor driver floating. It has an internal pulldown - making the default state Low-Power/Standby (in other words - asleep). Pull it high if you want your circuit to do anything ... \$\endgroup\$
    – brhans
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:38
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Good catch brhans. Wouldn't it have been easier to spot with a schematic! \$\endgroup\$
    – Neil_UK
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:51
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Please tell me if there's anything else I can include to be helpful. A schematic would be nice (actually more 'necessary'). \$\endgroup\$
    – Jashaszun
    Commented Aug 2, 2017 at 20:54

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5
\$\begingroup\$

You seem to have left the STBY pin on your motor driver floating.
The datasheet for the TB6612 driver IC on that board tells us that STBY has an internal 200k pulldown - making the default state of the device Low-Power/Standby (in other words - asleep).
Pull this pin high if you want your circuit to do anything.

\$\endgroup\$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.