How to Connect Four DC Motors Using Two L293D Motor Driver ICs

To control four DC motors using just two L293D motor driver ICs, this guide will walk you through the necessary components, connections, and code. This setup is ideal for projects requiring multiple motors but with limited resources.

Components Required

2 x L293D Motor Driver ICs 4 x DC Motors Arduino or Microcontroller (optional for control) Power Supply (suitable for your motors, typically 6-12V) Breadboard and jumper wires

Power Connections

The L293D motor driver is straight forward to power. Here’s how you connect the power supply to the ICs:

Vcc1 (pin 1) - Connect to 5V logic supply.
Vcc2 (pin 8) - Connect to the 6-12V motor supply. GND (pin 4, pin 5, pin 12, pin 13) - Connect to the ground of the power supply.

Motor Connections

Each L293D chip controls two motors. Here are the motor connections for four DC motors:

Motor 1 (M1)

One terminal connects to Output 1 (pin 3) The other terminal connects to Output 2 (pin 6)

Motor 2 (M2)

One terminal connects to Output 3 (pin 11) The other terminal connects to Output 4 (pin 14)

Motor 3 (M3)

One terminal connects to Output 1 (pin 3) in the second L293D The other terminal connects to Output 2 (pin 6) in the second L293D

Motor 4 (M4)

One terminal connects to Output 3 (pin 11) in the second L293D The other terminal connects to Output 4 (pin 14) in the second L293D

Control Connections

To control each motor, you need to connect the control pins from the L293D to your microcontroller, such as an Arduino:

Motor 1 Control

Input 1 (pin 2) and Input 2 (pin 7) - Connect to your microcontroller.

Motor 2 Control

Input 3 (pin 10) and Input 4 (pin 15) - Connect to your microcontroller.

Motor 3 Control

Input 1 (pin 2) and Input 2 (pin 7) in the second L293D - Connect to your microcontroller.

Motor 4 Control

Input 3 (pin 10) and Input 4 (pin 15) in the second L293D - Connect to your microcontroller.

Example Code for Arduino

Below is a simple example code to get you started with controlling the motors using an Arduino:

// Pin definitionsconst int motor1Pin1  2;  // Input 1 for Motor 1const int motor1Pin2  3;  // Input 2 for Motor 1const int motor2Pin1  4;  // Input 1 for Motor 2const int motor2Pin2  5;  // Input 2 for Motor 2const int motor3Pin1  6;  // Input 1 for Motor 3const int motor3Pin2  7;  // Input 2 for Motor 3const int motor4Pin1  8;  // Input 1 for Motor 4const int motor4Pin2  9;  // Input 2 for Motor 4void setup() {  // Set all the motor control pins as outputs  pinMode(motor1Pin1, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor1Pin2, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor2Pin1, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor2Pin2, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor3Pin1, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor3Pin2, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor4Pin1, OUTPUT);  pinMode(motor4Pin2, OUTPUT);}void loop() {  // Example: Run Motor 1 forward  digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, HIGH);  digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, LOW);  // Add delay to run motor  delay(2000);  // Stop Motor 1  digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, LOW);  digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, LOW);  // Repeat for other motors as needed...}

Tips

Ensure a suitable power supply that provides sufficient current for all motors. To control motor speed, use PWM Pulse Width Modulation on the control pins. Ensure proper heat dissipation for the L293D, especially when driving multiple motors.

This setup effectively allows you to control four DC motors with just two L293D ICs. If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!