Rpi python DRV8833 motor driver setting up and troubleshooting DC motor driving problem

Question

So what I am trying to do is to get the motor to spin but I want to raspberry pi between the motor so I can spin it clockwise for 5 seconds and then spin it anti-clockwise for 5 seconds. But initially, I just want to make sure it works.

Here is my circuit: enter image description here

And here is the code I am running, should this code should output some voltage if I have a volt meter on the aout pins?

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

# Declare the GPIO settings
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

# set up GPIO pins
GPIO.setup(19, GPIO.OUT) # Connected to AIN2
GPIO.setup(26, GPIO.OUT) # Connected to AIN1

# Drive the motor clockwise
GPIO.output(26, GPIO.HIGH) # Set AIN1
GPIO.output(19, GPIO.LOW) # Set AIN2

# Wait 5 seconds
time.sleep(5)

GPIO.output(12, GPIO.LOW) # Set AIN1
GPIO.output(11, GPIO.LOW) # Set AIN2

Update

So I have simplified my circuit to just test out an LED. Here is what it looks like now:

Update:

I have soldered the pins into the holes. What I am wondering now is should I have left the one that were N.C. unsoldered?

Also you can see the wiring setup I have the results I get on the multimeter.

(1) My understanding was that the pins 2 and 4 would output 5v AC?

(2) Seems from the multimeter it is 10v AC but I mean I could be reading the multimeter wrong?

(3) I was using a wire that isn't connected to anything as an earth also, I don't know if this makes sense or not?

• Here you can see what I mean in the above questions.

• Here I am touching the earth wire and the slp pin

• Here I am testing the ain1 pin to see if it has 5v

Answer 1

You need to do some more research.

I suggest you start with something simpler! Preferably light a few LEDs.

You use GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD) BUT then use BCM numbering.

You DO NOT have a Gnd connection between the devices - this is ABSOLUTELY essential for all circuits.

You DO NOT have proper connections to the device. Sticking pins through the holes is not good enough! If you are lucky it may work, but then a loose connection may fry your Pi.

Better I suggest you try gpiozero which is simpler, is well documented and has good examples.

I do not know what a DRV8833 is or its connections. Maybe someone does, but YOU should supply this information.

Answer 2

Question

Rpi python DRV8833 motor driver setting up and troubleshooting a N20 DC motor driving problem

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Answer

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1. I would suggest to do the hardware setup in Appendix A for preliminary testing.

2. For this preliminary testing, no online Rpi and programming is need. We can do offline DC level signals input to DRV8833 and test one of the two outputs.

3. We don't even need any motor for testing.

4. I would suggest the following wiring:

   4.1 Motor voltage 6V (or 9V)

   4.2 Status LED with serial current limiting resistor to simulate motor coil.

   4.2 Testing signals summary:

   AIN1 - 5V, 0V
   
   AIN2 - 5V, 0V
   
   BIN1 - N.C.
   
   BIN2 - N.C
   
   nSleep - 5V, 0V
   
   nFault - N.C
   
   AOUT1 - serial current protecting resistor, to status LED Anode.
   
   AOUT2 - LED Cathode
   
   BOUT1 - N.C.
   
   BOUT2 - N.C.
   
   ASEN  - Ground 
   
   BSEN  - Ground
   

5. Testing procedure:

   5.1 Set nSleep to enable drv8833

   5.2 By hand, use jumper wire to connect AIN1 to High (5V)

   5.3 By hand, use jumper wire to connect AIN2 to Low (0V)

   5.4 LED should be now switched on by DRV8833, implying that if motor is used instead of (or at the same time as) LED, current will pass motor coil, and motor would move in one directions (CW or CCW).

   5.5 Now connect AIN1 to Low, and AIN2 to High, LED should be switched off.

   5.6 Replace LED by motor (Errata and Edit 2021jun03 - The LED should have a series current limiting resistor, otherwise the LED would fry immediately. I would suggest the OP to try any "Blinky" for newbie program first, before any further testing on this project. Motor should move (a) in one direction if AIN1, AIN2 are connected by jumper wires to High, Low, and (b) in opposite direction if AIN1, AIN2 are connected to Low High.

   5.7 Use a NE555 timer to generate 0.5Hz square pulse (1 second High, 1 second Low), motor should repeatedly move in one direction for 1 second, and opposite direction for 1 second.

   5.8 Use a NE555 timer to generate PWM signals, say 1kHz and different duty cycles, to adjust the speed of the motor, (or the brightness of the status LED). For this motor speed adjustment test, AIN1 is set to High or Low, AIN2 is connected to the PWM signal.

   5.8 Then test the OP's python program in the question.

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References

(1) DRV8833 Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver Datasheet - TI 2015jul

(2) How to use motor drivers with H-bridge and PWM input, to control direction and speed of DC motors? - EESE 2020jul16

(3) How to troubleshoot a DRV8833 motor driver module problem? - EESE, 2020nov09, Viewed 701 times

(4) DRV8833 Motor Driver Test Demo Youtube Video - 2020nov18

(5) DRV8835 Dual Low-Voltage H-Bridge IC (11V, 1.5A Datasheet - TI 2016aug

(6) DRV8873 H-Bridge Motor Driver (38V, 10A, SPI) Datasheet - TI 2018aug https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/drv8873.pdf?ts=1622343011657&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.ti.com%252Fproduct%252FDRV8873

(7) How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering (Testing and Troubleshooting Solder Joints) - joel-eb SparkFun 2017oct

(8) DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board US$5- AdaFruit

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Appendices

Appendix A - Suggested hardware setup for troubleshooting DRV8833

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Appendix B - Spec of the OP's N20 Motor

Note - N20 motor current spec:

(a) No load current ~< 60mA,

(b) Load current ~= 150mA,

(c) Stall current ~= 400mA

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Appendix C - Shorting Asense/Bsense to Ground if Current sense resistors not used

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