Understanding L293D Motor Driver: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

 Whether you’re building a line-following robot, a remote-controlled car, or an automated gate system, controlling DC motors is essential. The L293D motor driver IC is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to drive motors with an Arduino or any microcontroller.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• What the L293D does

• How it works

• How to use it in a real project

Let’s roll! 

 What Is the L293D Motor Driver?

The L293D is a dual H-bridge motor driver IC. It allows you to control the direction and speed of two DC motors independently using logic signals.

  Key Features:

• Controls 2 DC motors or 1 stepper motor

• Voltage range: 4.5V to 36V

• Current per channel: up to 600mA

• Built-in diodes for protection

• TTL compatible input pins

• datasheet

 PinOut 

     

How Does the L293D Work?

The L293D works using H-Bridge logic, which lets you drive a motor forward, reverse, brake, or leave it idle.

Each motor has:

• 2 input pins to control direction (IN1, IN2)

• 1 enable pin to control speed (EN)

• 2 output pins to connect the motor

    

Connecting L293D with ESP32

Real-Life Applications

• Line-following robots

• Obstacle-avoiding cars

• Conveyor belt systems

• Robotic arms

• Automated curtains or doors