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  1. Parts
  2. /Motors & actuators
  3. /Motor drivers

Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v3 Kit

OverviewWiringAlternates
Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v3 Kit - Adafruit - 1438

Arduino shield that drives up to 4 DC motors or 2 bipolar steppers using TB6612 MOSFET drivers at 1.2A continuous (3A peak, ~20ms) per channel, plus two hobby servo headers. Communicates over I2C, freeing all Arduino PWM pins.

Parts tray full · 5 max · remove a part to add another
Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v3 Kit — Adafruit — 1438
STEP

Offers

  • Adafruit$19.95
  • ?DigiKey$19.95

Offers

  • Adafruit$19.95
  • ?DigiKey$19.95

Pinout

Logical pinout · physical placement not verified
MOTOR/STEPPER/SERVO SHSDAM3SCLM45VSERVO 1GNDSERVO 2M1POWERM2
  • SDA

    I2C data line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.

    Type · I2C
  • SCL

    I2C clock line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.

    Type · I2C
  • 5V

    Arduino 5 V logic rail required with SDA/SCL/GND for shield control.

    Type · PowerVoltage · 5V logic rail, source states 5v is required with SDA/SCL/GND.
  • GND

    Common ground required with SDA/SCL and 5 V for shield control.

    Type · GroundVoltage · 0V reference
  • M1

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M1; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  • M2

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M2; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  • M3

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M3; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  • M4

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M4; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  • SERVO 1

    One of two 3-pin hobby servo connections; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · 5V hobby servo connection per source text.
  • SERVO 2

    Second 3-pin hobby servo connection; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.

    Type · UnknownVoltage · 5V hobby servo connection per source text.
  • POWER

    Motor power input through the shield POWER terminal block; source FAQ says connect 5-12VDC power here or through Arduino DC barrel jack and VIN jumper.

    Type · PowerVoltage · 5-12VDC motor power per source FAQ.
PinTypeFunctionVoltage
SDAI2CI2C data line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.
SCLI2CI2C clock line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.
5VPowerArduino 5 V logic rail required with SDA/SCL/GND for shield control.5V logic rail, source states 5v is required with SDA/SCL/GND.
GNDGroundCommon ground required with SDA/SCL and 5 V for shield control.0V reference
M1UnknownDC motor / stepper motor output port M1; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
M2UnknownDC motor / stepper motor output port M2; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
M3UnknownDC motor / stepper motor output port M3; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
M4UnknownDC motor / stepper motor output port M4; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
SERVO 1UnknownOne of two 3-pin hobby servo connections; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.5V hobby servo connection per source text.
SERVO 2UnknownSecond 3-pin hobby servo connection; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.5V hobby servo connection per source text.
POWERPowerMotor power input through the shield POWER terminal block; source FAQ says connect 5-12VDC power here or through Arduino DC barrel jack and VIN jumper.5-12VDC motor power per source FAQ.
Logical pinout · physical placement not verified
MOTOR/STEPPER/SERVO SHSDAM3SCLM45VSERVO 1GNDSERVO 2M1POWERM2

Pin details

11 connections
  1. SDA

    I2C data line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.

    I2C
  2. SCL

    I2C clock line used by the shield PWM/motor controller; Adafruit states only SDA and SCL plus 5V and GND are required to drive the motors.

    I2C
  3. 5V

    Arduino 5 V logic rail required with SDA/SCL/GND for shield control.

    PowerVoltage · 5V logic rail, source states 5v is required with SDA/SCL/GND.
  4. GND

    Common ground required with SDA/SCL and 5 V for shield control.

    GroundVoltage · 0V reference
  5. M1

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M1; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  6. M2

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M2; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  7. M3

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M3; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  8. M4

    DC motor / stepper motor output port M4; Adafruit library docs select motor ports M1, M2, M3 or M4.

    UnknownVoltage · Motor supply, source FAQ states 5-12VDC power via POWER terminal blocks or Arduino DC barrel/VIN jumper.
  9. SERVO 1

    One of two 3-pin hobby servo connections; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.

    UnknownVoltage · 5V hobby servo connection per source text.
  10. SERVO 2

    Second 3-pin hobby servo connection; source says two connections for 5V hobby servos.

    UnknownVoltage · 5V hobby servo connection per source text.
  11. POWER

    Motor power input through the shield POWER terminal block; source FAQ says connect 5-12VDC power here or through Arduino DC barrel jack and VIN jumper.

    PowerVoltage · 5-12VDC motor power per source FAQ.

Start wiring

PWM · I2C · UART · Wide input · Breakout

Confirm the data interface matches your host board.

Module pins: 5V, GND, SDA, SCL. Schematik maps them to your board in the app.

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