🧠 What is L298N?

The L298N is a dual H-bridge motor driver module that lets you control the direction and speed of two DC motors independently, or one stepper motor.

It acts like a bridge between your Arduino (low power) and the motors (higher power).

⚙️ Features

🔌 Pinout Breakdown

🧠 Pro tip: If you’re powering motors with >12V, remove the 5V jumper and power logic separately from Arduino.

🔄 How H-Bridge Works

An H-bridge is a circuit that can reverse the polarity of voltage applied to a load (motor), allowing it to spin forward or backward 🚗↔️

IN1 HIGH, IN2 LOW  => Motor spins forward
IN1 LOW, IN2 HIGH  => Motor spins backward
IN1 = IN2          => Brake or stop

Speed is controlled by sending PWM to ENA (for motor A) or ENB (motor B).

🛠️ Arduino Code Example (1 Motor)

// Motor A
const int IN1 = 7;
const int IN2 = 8;
const int ENA = 9; // Must be PWM-capable

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

void loop() {
  // Forward
  digitalWrite(IN1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(IN2, LOW);
  analogWrite(ENA, 150); // Speed: 0–255
  delay(2000);

  // Reverse
  digitalWrite(IN1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(IN2, HIGH);
  analogWrite(ENA, 200);
  delay(2000);

  // Stop
  digitalWrite(IN1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(IN2, LOW);
  analogWrite(ENA, 0);
  delay(1000);
}

🧪 Use Cases

✅ 2WD/4WD robots
✅ Line followers
✅ Tank-style robots
✅ Stepper motor control
✅ Conveyor belts, sliders

⚠️ Limitations

⚠️ Gets hot — consider a heatsink 🥵
⚠️ Not ideal for high-current motors (>2A)
⚠️ A bit bulky compared to modern alternatives (like DRV8833)

🔧 Alternatives