2
\$\begingroup\$

Good day everyone,

I am following this guide to build an H-Bridge: http://www.mcmanis.com/chuck/robotics/tutorial/h-bridge/bjt-use.html. I finished building it and it works, exept if I want to use a PWM Pulse. I connected the ENA cable to the PWM port on the PIC. However, when I output a 0% duty cycle, the PWM port still has an voltage on it (1V), thus the DC Motor will not turn, because the PWM port doesn't ground the ENA signal.

Is there a flaw in the design? Should I use an extra NPN transistor connected to ground, with the base connected to ENA?

enter image description here

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
1
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Which PIC, and what is its supply voltage? What is the voltage drop across each 470 Ohm resistor at 0% PWM? How much current does your motor draw? What happens if you don't use PWM and just set the GPIO pin low in your program? \$\endgroup\$ – Bruce Abbott Nov 21 '16 at 20:24
1
\$\begingroup\$

You didn't say what output you are using on what PIC. You may therefore be asking this output to sink too much current. Worst case you're running the PIC from 5 V. Driving the ENA output line low puts current thru two LEDs. These are likely IR LEDs inside opto-isolators, so let's say they drop 1.2 V. That leaves 3.8 V across each 470 Ω resistor, which means the current is 8.1 mA. Both those together require the PIC output to sink 16.2 mA.

Some can do that, some can't. Check the datasheet.

Also, this motor driver is intended for basic on/off forward/backward operation. The response to the ENA input will be quite slow. It is not meant to be switched "quickly", as is needed to support proportional drive via PWM.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

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