L293D stepper motor sleep

[jamwalker]

Hi there,

I've been building a circuit that has an mechanical encoder controlling a stepper motor directly through a very simple circuit with the L293D.

Here is a video of my project so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gkxA9aqyuQ


The one addition I need now is prevent current being sent to the motor when it is not being sent any signals from the encoder and is there for stationary. The reason I want this improvement is so that I don't drain my battery so fast and so the motor doesn't heat up so much. I need the circuit to be built from scratch so I am avoiding using an Arduino and a easy driver. I am a complete novice so I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense. Please inform me if you need more information to help you out.

Thanks for your time and I hope you can help me.

 

[alec_t]

The one addition I need now is prevent current being sent to the motor when it is not being sent any signals from the encoder and is there for stationary.

You can use the Enable inputs of the L293D to switch the current off. The datasheet says: "When an enable input is high, the associated drivers are enabled and their outputs are active and in phase with their inputs. When the enable input is low, those drivers are disabled and their outputs are off and in the high-impedance state."

 

[jamwalker]

thanks for you help,

i've been looking on the web and trying to work out how i would go about setting the enable pin to low. i keep coming across arduino forums and articles about setting enable pins in code but not on the circuit.
with the L293D, is it a lot more simple than that? do i just connect the enable pin to the ground or nothing at all to set it to low?

thanks again for you help, i know i have no idea what i'm talking about so i really appreciate your help

 

[alec_t]

do i just connect the enable pin to the ground or nothing at all to set it to low?

Connect the Enable pin to ground to set it low (which turns off the output current); leave it unconnected (= logic high), or drive it high, to turn on the current.