The first step in a robotics project is to get a motor spinning. Once you've done that you quickly learn that not all motors go the same speed, even if they are the same part number! There are always variations that relate to voltage, environment, and manufacturing changes.
Motor driver lead. Adafruit states the white and red wires connect to the motor driver and can be PWM’d for speed and direction using an H-bridge.
Motor driver lead. Adafruit states the white and red wires connect to the motor driver and can be PWM’d for speed and direction using an H-bridge.
Encoder ground wire. Adafruit states to connect the blue wire to the microcontroller ground pin.
Encoder power wire. Adafruit states to connect the black wire to 3-5V DC, using whichever voltage the microcontroller uses.
Hall-effect encoder output. Adafruit states the hall effect outputs are on the yellow and green wires.
Hall-effect encoder output. Adafruit states the hall effect outputs are on the yellow and green wires.
| Pin | Position | Type | Function | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White motor lead | motor power | Motor driver lead. Adafruit states the white and red wires connect to the motor driver and can be PWM’d for speed and direction using an H-bridge. | 4.5V to 6V DC nominal motor supply, source states product 4640 uses 6V nominal power | |
| Red motor lead | motor power | Motor driver lead. Adafruit states the white and red wires connect to the motor driver and can be PWM’d for speed and direction using an H-bridge. | 4.5V to 6V DC nominal motor supply, source states product 4640 uses 6V nominal power | |
| Blue encoder ground | ground | Encoder ground wire. Adafruit states to connect the blue wire to the microcontroller ground pin. | 0V ground reference for encoder electronics | |
| Black encoder VCC |
4.5V to 6V DC nominal motor supply, source states product 4640 uses 6V nominal power · 0V ground reference for encoder electronics
Verify supply voltage and logic levels before powering up.
Module pins: Black encoder VCC, Blue encoder ground, Yellow hall output, Green hall output. Schematik maps them to your board in the app.
SparkFun Qwiic Pro Micro BoogieBoard visual preview
9V to Barrel Jack Adapter visual preview
SparkFun 16x2 SerLCD - RGB Backlight (Qwiic) visual preview
MicroUSB Plug to 5.5/2.1mm DC Barrel Jack Adapter | Kiwi Electronics visual previewSort passive connector adapters from Qwiic boards, LCD modules and microSD card adapters before assuming anything with the right plug will substitute safely.
Connectors & cables · Connectors · 28 parts
RGB backlight positive LCD 16x2 visual previewSparkFun 16x2 SerLCD - RGB Backlight (Qwiic) visual preview
I2C 20x4 Arduino LCD Display Module visual preview
Gravity: I2C 16x2 Arduino LCD with RGB Backlight Display V2.0 visual previewCharacter LCDs, SPI TFTs, e-paper modules and larger capacitive-touch TFT panels solve different display jobs. Treat display class, interface, controller, resolution, touch, refresh behaviour, storage, voltage and mounting as separate swap checks.
Displays · TFT & LCD displays · 35 parts
MQ-2 Gas Sensor visual preview
MQ-3 Gas Sensor visual preview
MQ-135 Gas Sensor visual preview
Grove - Air quality sensor visual previewChoose between MQ gas sensors, VOC/eCO2 indoor-air sensors, true CO2 modules and particulate sensors without treating every air-quality breakout as the same detector.
Sensors · Gas & air-quality sensors · 31 parts
Arduino Uno visual preview
Raspberry Pi Pico visual preview
Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express visual preview
Pan-Tilt HAT kit visual previewESP32, Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi Pico, and compatible add-on boards for running builds.
Boards · Microcontroller boards · 29 parts
| power |
| Encoder power wire. Adafruit states to connect the black wire to 3-5V DC, using whichever voltage the microcontroller uses. |
| 3V to 5V DC for encoder electronics |
| Yellow hall output | signal | Hall-effect encoder output. Adafruit states the hall effect outputs are on the yellow and green wires. | Logic output referenced to encoder VCC |
| Green hall output | signal | Hall-effect encoder output. Adafruit states the hall effect outputs are on the yellow and green wires. | Logic output referenced to encoder VCC |