The HW-130 is a beginner-friendly, cost-effective shield based on the standard L298P driver chip. While the hardware is robust for small projects, the documentation (datasheet) often lacks clarity regarding pin mappings and power limits. Below is a breakdown of what the datasheet tells you—and what it often leaves out.
Strip your motor wires, insert them into the desired screw terminals (M1–M4), and tighten them securely with a precision screwdriver. 5. Software Configuration and Programming
| Parameter | Value / Range | |-------------------------|---------------------------------------| | | L293D (x1) | | Input Voltage (VCC) | 4.5V to 12V DC (external power) | | Logic Voltage | 5V (from Arduino) | | Max Continuous Current | 600 mA per channel (peak: 1.2A) | | Number of DC Motors | Up to 4 (or 2 with speed/direction) | | Stepper Motors | 1 bipolar (unipolar not supported) | | PWM Channels | 4 (pins 5, 6, 9, 10 on Arduino) | | Thermal Shutdown | Yes (built into L293D) | | Flyback Diodes | Integrated in L293D (internal) | | PCB Size | 68.5mm x 53.3mm (standard Uno shield) | | Stackable | Yes (with pin headers) | hw 130 motor control shield for arduino datasheet
Connect a battery pack (e.g., 7.4V LiPo or 9V-12V battery) to the EXT_PWR terminal block.
Jumper Present: Connects Arduino’s 5V rail to the motor power line. Only use this if your motors require less than 5V and draw very low current. Strip your motor wires, insert them into the
The HW 130 includes a current sensing circuit: a 0.5Ω resistor and a voltage divider. The output at (Arduino A0) is approximately 0.5V per Ampere.
void setup() pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT); pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT); pinMode(ENA, OUTPUT); Jumper Present: Connects Arduino’s 5V rail to the
3-pin header mapped directly to Arduino Digital Pin 9. Arduino Pin Allocation Table
2 dedicated 3-pin headers (connected to Arduino high-resolution timer). Max Motor Current: 0.6A continuous, 1.2A peak per bridge. Motor Voltage Range: 4.5V - 25V (External power). Logic Voltage: 5V (Taken from Arduino).
void loop() // Read current from Motor A voltage = analogRead(currentPin) * (5.0 / 1023.0); current = voltage / 0.5; // Because sensor is 0.5V/A Serial.print("Motor Current: "); Serial.print(current); Serial.println(" A"); delay(500);
The hum of the lab was the only sound until the HW-130 shield clicked onto the Arduino board. For Leo, this wasn't just a sandwich of fiberglass and copper; it was the nervous system of his greatest project yet. He tightened the terminal screws on Motor 1, the wire biting into the brass. "Don't fail me now," he whispered.