C. shield connections: signals, power, and motors, Section 3.c – Pololu Dual MC33926 User Manual

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power connections, or you can break off a 12×1 section of the included 0.1″ header strip and solder it into the
smaller through-holes that border the six large motor and motor power pads. Note, however, that each header
pin pair is only rated for a combined 6 A, so for higher-power applications, the terminal blocks should be
used or thick wires with

high-current connectors

[http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/925]

should be soldered

directly to the board. The smaller holes are intended only for 0.1″ header pins, not for the terminal blocks!

3. Arduino power jumper: If you want the option of powering your Arduino and motor shield from the
same source, you can solder a 2×1 piece of the included 0.1″ male header strip to two the pins highlighted
in orange in the above picture. Shorting across these pins with the included shorting block will connect the
shield power to the Arduino’s VIN pin. You should not use this to power the shield from the Arduino as this
connection is not designed to handle high currents, and you must never supply power to the Arduino’s VIN
pin or power jack while this shorting block is in place, because it will create a short between the shield power
supply and the Arduino power supply and will likely permanently damage something.

4. Arduino pin breakout points: The shield provides a secondary access point for each Arduino pin,
divided into two rows of pins spaced on a 0.1″ grid (unlike the standard Arduino pins, which have a half-pin
offset introduced by the gap in the top row). You can optionally solder 0.1″ female headers (not included) to
these pins. Note that the SCL and SDA breakouts are top-layer pads only, not through-holes, due to the close
proximity of Arduino pins below.

The other through-holes on the shield are used for more advanced things like customizing the Arduino pin
mappings or using the board with other microcontrollers. They are not necessary for getting started using this
shield with an Arduino, and they are discussed in more detail later in this guide.

3.c. Shield Connections: Signals, Power, and Motors

Using the dual MC33926 motor driver shield with an Arduino (shield and Arduino powered

separately).

All of the necessary logic connections between the Arduino and the motor driver shield, including VDD, are made
automatically when the shield is plugged into the Arduino. However, the shield’s motor power must be supplied

Pololu Dual MC33926 Motor Driver Shield User's Guide

© 2001–2013 Pololu Corporation

3. Getting Started with an Arduino

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