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I know this is probably a stupid question but I am hobbyist and could not find a solution to this problem.

I have a micro-controller that sends a PWM signal to a transistor that lets current flow through a coil in one direction but I want to be able to change the direction the current flows in every time I send a digital output from another pin on the micro-controller. For that I will have to use another transistor that can let current flow in the other direction.

My problem is that I need a way to switch to which transistor the PWM signal is send to by sending a pulse from a another pin. I am guessing that I will need some sort of digital SPDT switch. Is there anything like this any reference to a component or circuit will help.

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    \$\begingroup\$ The usual way of driving a coil (normally motors) in two directions is called an "H-bridge". Otherwise, you could do it with a few NAND gates.. \$\endgroup\$
    – pjc50
    Jul 17, 2013 at 14:52

3 Answers 3

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A two input H-Bridge made out of 2 NPN inputs, with the motor drive made out of 2 NPN & 2 PNP transistors and 4 diodes.

enter image description here

The specific transistors you use would be rated for your coil, doesn't have to be those specific ones.

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You haven't really given a necessary current but you could also search for "analog multiplexers" that are basically just SPXTs

http://www.vishay.com/docs/72308/dg2714.pdf

That's an example.

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If you would still like to use your original approach, it sounds like a SPDT relay would work. Here is a datasheet for one I use often.

There is a control pin which allows you to digitally select between one or the other, but since you are using a microcontroller you will have to drive it with a relay driver circuit like this:
(source: comcast.net)

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