Pololu Simple Motor Controllers

The Simple Motor Controllers are versatile, general-purpose single-channel motor controllers for brushed, DC motors. Wide operating voltage ranges and the ability to deliver up to several hundred watts in a small form factor make these controllers suitable for many motor control applications. With a variety of supported interfaces—­USB for direct connection to a computer, TTL serial and I²C for use with embedded systems, RC hobby servo pulses for use as an RC-controlled electronic speed control (ESC), and analog voltages for use with a potentiometer or analog joystick—­and a wide array of configurable settings, these motor controllers make it easy to add basic control of brushed DC motors to a variety of projects. A free configuration utility for Windows simplifies initial setup of the device and allows for in-system testing and monitoring of the controller via USB.

The table below lists the all of the members of the Simple Motor Controller family and shows the key differences among them, including the original SMCs with green PCBs. The newer G2 (blue) SMCs can generally be used as drop-in replacements for the originals, which are not recommended for new designs (they are only included in the table below for comparison purposes).

Original versions, not recommended for new designs
(included for comparison purposes)
G2 versions,
released November 2018

SMC
18v7

SMC
18v15

SMC
24v12

SMC
18v25

SMC
24v23

SMC G2
18v15

SMC G2
24v12

SMC G2
18v25

SMC G2
24v19
Minimum operating voltage: 5.5 V 5.5 V 5.5 V 5.5 V 5.5 V 6.5 V 6.5 V 6.5 V 6.5 V
Recommended max
operating voltage:
24 V(1) 24 V(1) 34 V(2) 24 V(1) 34 V(2) 24 V(1) 34 V(2) 24 V(1) 34 V(2)
Max nominal
battery voltage:
18 V 18 V 28 V 18 V 28 V 18 V 28 V 18 V 28 V
Max continuous current
(no additional cooling):
7 A 15 A 12 A 25 A 23 A 15 A 12 A 25 A 19 A
USB, TTL serial,
Analog, RC control:
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
I²C control: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hardware current limiting: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Reverse voltage protection: Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dimensions: 2.1″ × 1.1″ 2.3″ × 1.2″ 2.1″ × 1.1″ 1.7″ × 1.2″
Price: $129.95 $129.95 $135.45 $162.95 $168.45 $118.95 $118.95 $146.45 $151.95
Available with
connectors installed?
Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No
1 30 V absolute max.
2 40 V absolute max.

Products in category “Pololu Simple Motor Controllers”

Pololu item #: 1366
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 30 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 25 A without a heat sink. Male headers and terminal blocks are included but not soldered, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1367
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 40 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 19 A without a heat sink. Male headers and terminal blocks are included but not soldered, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1362
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 30 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 15 A without a heat sink. This version ships with soldered header pins and terminal blocks.

Pololu item #: 1363
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 30 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 15 A without a heat sink. Male headers and terminal blocks are included but not soldered, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1364
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 40 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 12 A without a heat sink. This version ships with soldered header pins and terminal blocks.

Pololu item #: 1365
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: Rationed (Active and Preferred) 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

This powerful motor controller makes basic control of a brushed DC motor easy, with quick configuration over USB using our free software. It supports five control interfaces: USB, TTL serial, I²C, analog voltage (potentiometer), and hobby radio control (RC). This version offers a wide 6.5 V to 40 V operating range and can deliver continuous output currents up to 12 A without a heat sink. Male headers and terminal blocks are included but not soldered, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1383
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 40 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 23 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors included but not soldered in, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1381
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 30 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 25 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors included but not soldered in, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1378
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 40 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 12 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors installed as shown.

Pololu item #: 1379
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 40 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 12 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors included but not soldered in, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1376
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller 18v15 makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 30 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 15 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors installed as shown.

Pololu item #: 1377
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple High-Power Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 30 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 15 A without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors included but not soldered in, allowing for custom installations.

Pololu item #: 1372
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple Motor Controller 18v7 makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 30 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 7 A (>30 A peak) without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors installed as shown.

Pololu item #: 1373
Brand: Pololu supply outlook
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant
Out of stock.
Quantity:

The Pololu Simple Motor Controller makes basic control of brushed DC motors easy, with our free Simple Motor Control Center software enabling quick configuration over USB. The controller supports four interface modes: USB, TTL serial, analog voltage, and hobby radio control (RC). This version operates from 5.5 to 30 V and is efficient enough to deliver a continuous 7 A (>30 A peak) without a heat sink. It ships with the power capacitor and connectors included but not soldered in, allowing for custom installations.

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