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Using A Cheap Audio Amplifier For Motor Control

Journal by cafebabe

I sent something similar to a friend who gave me two audio amplifier boards:-

I've failed with the PAM8403 audio boards. Removing the 22nF capacitors seems to tie output to supply Voltage. This may be due my poor unsoldering or the 22nF capacitors having oscillator functionality in addition to blocking DC drift from audio input. It may be possible to connect the 22nF capacitors to ground (for the purpose of oscillation?) and connect signal behind the capacitors (for the purpose of permitting DC drift for motor control).

People at my makerspace are quite amused that a turtle or tank robot could be controlled with stereo audio output and an 80 cent audio amplifier. Four or more PAM8403 chips multiplexed with a 4052 chip or suchlike and controlled with two or more GPIO pins would be particularly cheap but effective.

After a technical argument at the makerspace about Lego motor specifications, it was determined that approximately all Lego motors (from 3V to 9V, excluding servo motors) may be compatible with a PAM8403. This applies much more generally - if a PAM8403 chip can be made to work with a DC offset.

Also, two of the amateur radio enthusiasts and electronics experts at the makerspace were particularly impressed by the size and cost of PAM8403 boards. However, they confirmed that D-Class amplifiers cannot be ganged.

If anyone can get this working then you'll be *very* popular.

 

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