Adafruit
DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on
Best motor controller for compact robotics and custom automation projects.
This is the fully assembled DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on, designed to integrate seamlessly with any Feather board. It efficiently controls up to two bi-polar stepper motors or four brushed DC motors using a dedicated I2C PWM driver chip for simplified speed control. Utilizing the TB6612 chipset, it delivers 1.2A per bridge with essential thermal and kickback protection. The board features large 3.5mm terminal blocks for easy wiring of 18-26AWG wires and supports external power supplies ranging from 4.5VDC to 13.5VDC. It is completely stackable, allowing for complex motor control setups.
$19.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
259
/ 775
#259 in Circuit Board Accessories
Price vs Category Average
-25%
Below average
Board Type
Feather
/ Feather
Who it's for
- Makers building compact, portable robotics projects
- Developers needing extra pins for additional sensors
- Engineers designing versatile automation and motion systems
Who should skip it
- Builders requiring high-torque motors for heavy-duty robotics
- Users working with non-Feather microcontroller platforms
- Designers seeking a simple, single-source power solution
Performance breakdown
Integration Ease
Pre-assembled headers make setup nearly instantaneous for any Feather project.
Stacking Versatility
Address-select jumpers allow for complex, multi-motor control configurations with ease.
Motor Compatibility
Handles a flexible mix of stepper and DC motors reliably.
Thermal Resilience
Integrated protection circuitry keeps performance stable under demanding load conditions.
Wiring Accessibility
Large terminal blocks simplify connections for standard gauge hobbyist wiring.
Form Factor Efficiency
Compact footprint maximizes space without sacrificing essential motor control functionality.
Key Specs
Board Type
Feather
Component Type
Servo/Motor
Components
Shields/Modules
Dimensions
50.80 x 22.86 x 1.52 mm
Parts Warranty
1 Year
Labor Warranty
1 Year
H-Bridges
4 full H-Bridges (TB6612 chipset)
Current per Bridge
1.2A
Features
- Drives 2 stepper motors or 4 DC motors
- Dedicated I2C driver chip handles motor control
- Fully assembled with headers for immediate use
- Individual 12-bit speed selection for DC motors
- Supports various stepper motor stepping modes
- Polarity protected external power connection
- Completely stackable FeatherWing design
- Thermal shutdown and kickback protection included
- Controls 2 bi-polar stepper motors or 4 brushed DC motors
- Supports mixed control of stepper and DC motors
- Feather form factor for easy integration
- Stackable design with Feather boards
- Compact and lightweight
What customers say
This FeatherWing is highly valued by Feather ecosystem users needing motion control. Reviewers consistently praise its seamless integration and compact design, which adds significant functionality without bulk. The robust and user-friendly Adafruit MotorKit library simplifies motor control, making it accessible. Users appreciate the versatility of driving two DC motors or one stepper motor for various projects. Component quality upholds Adafruit's reputation for reliable hardware. The main consideration is the inherent power limitation due to its small size, requiring external power for demanding motors. Overall, satisfaction is high; it is viewed as a powerful, well-supported, and valuable addition to the Feather line.
Know before you buy
Yes, the FeatherWing supports mixed control. You can configure it to run a combination of stepper and DC motors simultaneously, provided you stay within the four available H-bridge channels.
The motors require an external power supply connected to the terminal blocks, ranging from 4.5VDC to 13.5VDC. The board includes polarity protection to help prevent damage if the power leads are accidentally reversed.
Yes, the board is designed to be stackable. By using the five address-select jumper pads, you can stack up to 32 FeatherWings on a single Feather board to expand your motor control capacity.
The TB6612 chipset provides 1.2A per bridge. This is sufficient for most small to medium-sized hobbyist motors, and the board includes built-in thermal shutdown and kickback protection to keep the electronics safe.
Yes, this version of the FeatherWing comes fully assembled with headers, so it is ready to plug directly into your Feather board right out of the box.
The 3.5mm terminal blocks are designed to accommodate wires ranging from 18AWG to 26AWG. This range covers most standard jumper and motor wire sizes used in robotics projects.
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