Interfacing BLDC Motor with Arduino: Connection Diagram and Guide
Hi, In this article, we are going to see the connection diagram and step-by-step procedure to interface a BLDC motor with an Arduino. Brushless DC (BLDC) motors are widely used in modern electronics due to their high efficiency, reliability, and quiet operation. Whether you are building a drone, electric vehicle, or a robotics project, you must need to understand how to interface a BLDC motor with an Arduino.
Connection Diagram
Here, you can see the Connection diagram for interfacing BLDC motor with Arduino.
Components Used
In the above connection or in fact in every basic BLDC Motor and Arduino interfacing we must use the below components,
1. Arduino Uno
The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P. In this setup, it acts as the main controller that sends control signals (PWM) to the ESC (Electronic Speed Controller). These signals determine the speed and rotation of the BLDC motor.
2. ESC (Electronic Speed Controller)
The ESC is the component that connects directly to the BLDC motor and battery. It receives low-power PWM control signals from the Arduino and translates them into high-power three-phase signals to drive the motor.
There are two types of ESCs.
BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) ESC(Used in the above connection): This type of ESC has a built-in voltage regulator that provides a 5V regulated output which can be used to power the Arduino or other components directly from the ESC. This eliminates the need for a separate power source for the control electronics.
Non-BEC ESC: This type does not have a built-in voltage regulator, so it only powers the motor, and you need an external 5V source to power the Arduino or other electronics.
3. BLDC Motor (Brushless DC Motor)
A BLDC motor is an electronically commutated motor that offers high efficiency, reliability, and speed control. Unlike brushed motors, BLDC motors have no physical brushes, so they have lower wear and longer life. They require three-phase signals to operate, which is why a motor driver (like the ESC) is essential.
4. Battery
The battery is the primary power source for the ESC and motor. It must supply enough voltage and current to handle the motor's load. In most of the cases, LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries are used due to their high discharge rates.
Connection Procedure
Here, is the step by step connection procedure for interfacing a BLDC motor with an Arduino through ESC.
Step 1: BLDC Motor and ESC Connection
The ESC has three thick wires on one side generally marked as A, B, C. Connect these three wires to the three wires of the BLDC motor. The connection order does not matter initially, but if the motor spins in the wrong direction just swap any two wires to reverse the direction. If the motor and ESC have color code(as the above diagram) then make the connection by matching the color codes.
Step 2: ESC and Arduino Connection
On the other side of the ESC, there is usually a 3-wire connector or three thin wires (Signal, +5V, and GND). The Signal is generally indicated by white or yellow, the +5V is usually red and the GND is usually black or brown. Remember that here we have using a BEC-enabled ESC that is why it has 3-wires including +5V but if the ESC is not BEC enable you will see only two wires Signal and Ground.
Now, Connect the Signal wire to Arduino's digital pin 9 (or any PWM pin). Connect the +5V wire to Arduino's 5V pin (to power Arduino via BEC). Connect the GND wire to Arduino's GND Pin.
**Remember that If your Arduino is already powered via USB or another source, do not connect the +5V from ESC to the Arduino's 5V pin. Or, if you are using a Non-BEC ESC then power the Arduino with a separate 5V DC power source through its Power Jack or USB or Vin Pin.
Step 3: Battery and ESC Connection
Most ESCs have two thick wires for its power input where the Positive (+) terminal is indicated by Red color and the Negative (−) terminal is indicated by Black color.
So, connect the Red wire of the ESC to the Positive (+) terminal of the Battery and connect the Black wire of the ESC to the Negative (+) terminal of the Battery
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