L298N Dual Motor Controller H‑Bridge Driver Module User’s Guide

Overview

The L298N module is a dual H‑bridge motor driver that allows you to control the speed and direction of two DC motors or one stepper motor. It can handle up to 2 A per channel with supply voltages from 5 V to 35 V. It’s widely used with Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and other microcontrollers.

Pinout & Connections

Operation Logic

• Motor Direction Control
  • IN1 = HIGH, IN2 = LOW → Motor A forward
  • IN1 = LOW, IN2 = HIGH → Motor A reverse
  • IN1 = IN2 → Motor A stop
• Speed Control
  • Apply PWM signal to ENA/ENB pins.
  • Duty cycle controls motor speed.

Example Wiring with Arduino

// Motor A pins
int ENA = 9;
int IN1 = 8;
int IN2 = 7;

// Motor B pins
int ENB = 3;
int IN3 = 5;
int IN4 = 4;

void setup() {
  pinMode(ENA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ENB, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(IN3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(IN4, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // Motor A forward
  digitalWrite(IN1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(IN2, LOW);
  analogWrite(ENA, 200); // speed (0–255)

  // Motor B reverse
  digitalWrite(IN3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(IN4, HIGH);
  analogWrite(ENB, 150); // speed
}

Applications

• Robotics (two‑wheel drive robots)
• CNC machines and 3D printers (stepper control)
• Automated toys and DIY kits
• Conveyor belts and small automation projects

Best Practices

• Use a separate power supply for motors (avoid drawing heavy current from Arduino).
• Add flyback diodes if motors are highly inductive (though L298N has internal diodes).
• Keep heat sink exposed — the IC can get hot at >1 A loads.
• Use PWM for smooth speed control.
• Tie all grounds together (motor supply, logic supply, microcontroller).