L293D Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver IC

Overview

The L293D is a monolithic integrated, high-voltage, high-current, 4-channel driver. Essentially, it is a Dual H-Bridge motor driver that can drive inductive loads like relays, solenoids, DC motors, and bipolar stepping motors. It allows your low-power microcontroller (like Arduino or ESP32) to control high-power motors safely without the risk of burning out your controller’s pins.

Key Features 

• Dual Motor Control: Independently control the speed and direction of two DC motors or one 4-wire stepper motor.

• Internal Protection: Built-in “kickback” diodes protect your circuit from back EMF (voltage spikes) produced by the motors.

• Compact DIP-16 Package: Breadboard-friendly design makes it ideal for prototyping and student labs.

• Thermal Shutdown: Features internal overheating protection to prevent the chip from burning out under high loads.

• Wide Voltage Range: Supports motor voltages from 4.5V up to 36V.

Technical Specifications 

Feature	Specification
Output Current	600mA Per Channel (Continuous)
Peak Output Current	1.2A Per Channel (Non-repetitive)
Motor Supply Voltage ($V_{cc2}$)	4.5V to 36V
Logic Supply Voltage ($V_{cc1}$)	4.5V to 7V (Standard 5V compatible)
Transition Time	300ns (Fast switching for PWM)
Package	16-Pin DIP (Dual In-line Package)