Kitronik Inventors Kit for Arduino - Exp 4 Using A Transistor To Drive A Motor

Experiment 4 from the Inventors Kit for Arduino. In which we explore using a transistor to drive a motor. Included in this resource are code downloads, a description of the experiment, and also a video walkthrough. It provides additional help and is not meant to replace the documentation that ships with the kit. Arduino is an open-source code-able electronics platform. The boards can process inputs from many sensors, and also control outputs such as LEDs and motors. The Arduino is controlled by the code with which it is programmed. This code is written in the Arduino programming language, using the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Once complete, the code is easily transferred to the board using a simple USB lead.

 

Inventors Kit Exp 4 Using A Transistor To Drive A Motor:

The output pins on most microprocessors can only supply a small amount of current, not enough for a power hungry device such as a motor. The Arduino is no exception to this. A transistor can be used to solve this problem. A transistor is like a gate for electricity, a small amount of current can be used to open the gate to let a lot of current flow through to power hungry components. The aims of this experiment are:

• To use a transistor to drive a fan motor.
• And to also control the speed of the motor using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).

   

Video Walkthrough:

   

Exp 4 Code:

Either open a new Sketch (File > New) then create the following code by typing in the editor window. Or, click the open code button in the editor to open the code in the online editor.

Inventors Kit Extra Resources:

Each of the ten experiments has been designed to ease you into coding and also physical computing for the Arduino. The experiments have been chosen to cover the key concepts of physical computing and they also increase in difficulty as you progress. If you are new to this, even the least complex examples can be quite challenging. With this in mind, we created walkthrough videos for each of the experiments. Our presenter talks you through the circuit in a way that backs up the information given in the booklet but in a style that some might find easier to absorb. As well as having a video walkthrough, each page also contains the code. Although it is always good to tackle the code yourself, it can be handy for testing your circuit. The code has been heavily commented as an extra learning resource. To get the most out of the experiment, once you've tested your circuit have a go at coding the experiment from scratch. Follow the links in the table below:  

Exp No#.	Experiment Name.
1	Digital Inputs & Outputs.
2	Light Sensor & Analog Inputs.
3	Dimming an LED using a potentiometer.
4	Using a transistor to drive a motor.
5	Control a servo with a potentiometer.
6	Setting the tone with a piezo buzzer.
7	Using a seven segment display.
8	Exploring wind power.
9	Capacitor charge circuit.
10	Using an RGB LED.

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