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Warning: This carrier board uses low-ESR ceramic capacitors, which makes it
susceptible to destructive LC voltage spikes, especially when using power leads longer
than a few inches. Under the right conditions, these spikes can exceed the 11.8 V
maximum voltage rating for the DRV8834 and permanently damage the board, even
when the motor supply voltage is as low as 9 V. One way to protect the driver from
such spikes is to put a large (at least 47 µF) electrolytic capacitor across motor power
(VMOT) and ground somewhere close to the board.
MOTOR CONNECTIONS
Four, six, and eight-wire stepper motors can be driven by the DRV8834 if they are
properly connected; a FAQ answer explains the proper wirings in detail.
Warning: Connecting or disconnecting a stepper motor while the driver is powered
can destroy the driver. (More generally, rewiring anything while it is powered is asking
for trouble.)
STEP (AND MICROSTEP) SIZE
Stepper motors typically have a step size specification (e.g. 1.8° or 200 steps per
revolution), which applies to full steps. A microstepping driver such as the DRV8834
allows higher resolutions by allowing intermediate step locations, which are achieved
by energizing the coils with intermediate current levels. For instance, driving a motor
in quarter-step mode will give the 200-step-per-revolution motor 800 microsteps per
revolution by using four different current levels.
The resolution (step size) selector inputs (M0 and M1) enable selection from the six
step resolutions according to the table below. M0 is floating by default, while M1 has
an internal 200 kΩpull-down resistor, so leaving these two microstep selection pins
disconnected results in 1/4-step mode. For the microstep modes to function correctly,
the current limit must be set low enough (see below) so that current limiting gets
engaged. Otherwise, the intermediate current levels will not be correctly maintained,
and the motor will skip microsteps.