ST1138 Arduino – L293D motor controller

L293D is a monolithic integrated 4-channel high voltage and high current driver.

Basically this means that you can use DC motors and power supplies up to 25 volts with this chip, these are some pretty big motors and the chip can deliver a maximum current of 600mA per channel, the L293D chip is also a type of H-bridge. The H-bridge is typically an electrical circuit that allows a voltage to be applied across a load in either direction to an output, such as a motor. Features : 2 interfaces for 5 V servo, connected to the Arduino's high resolution dedicated timer - no jitter. Can drive 4 DC motors or 2 stepper motors or 2 servo motors.

Up to 4 bidirectional DC motors with individual 8-bit speed selection. Up to 2 stepper motors (unipolar or bipolar) with single coil, double coil or interleaved stepping. 4 H-bridges: delivers 0.6 A per bridge (1.2 A peak current) with thermal protection, can drive motors from 4.5 V to 25 V DC. Pull-down resistors keep motors disabled during power-up. 2 external terminal power supply interfaces for separate logic/motor supplies.

Special features - compatible for Arduino Mega, Diecimila and Duemilanove tested. - 0.6 A (1.2 A peak current) with thermal protection per bridge - input voltage: 5 ... 9 volts DC - output voltage motor: 4,5 ... 25 V DC