ST VNH2SP30 30A Motor Driver

Pololu item #: 537
Brand: ST
Status: End-of-Life Rationing 
RoHS 3 compliant

This product is currently unavailable.

The VNH2SP30 is an improved version of the VNH3SP30 motor driver, featuring current sensing, increased drive capability, and a higher maximum PWM frequency of 20 kHz.

Note: This driver has been discontinued by ST. We recommend the newer and very similar VNH5019 as an alternative.

Alternatives available with variations in these parameter(s): motor driver Select variant…

 Description Specs (11) Pictures (0) Resources (2) FAQs (0) On the blog (0) 

We use these motor drivers in several of our products, including the single and dual motor driver carrier boards, the jrk 12v12 motor controller w/feedback, the TReX motor controller, the qik 2s12v10, and the Orangutan X2 robot controller. We also carry boards based on the similar VNH5019. We offer the chips by themselves for more direct integration into your project or product.

VNH3SP30, VNH2SP30, and VNH5019 Comparison

The VNH5019 is the only one of the three with a practical operating voltage above 16 V, and it is the only one that works with 3 V logic.

The current-related values in the table below (i.e. the entries to which footnote 3 applies) are the results of tests on only one or two of each driver version, so they do not capture potential unit-to-unit variation, and the tests were conducted with our carrier boards, so they are not necessarily indicative of how the IC will perform by itself or on a different PCB. As such, the values should be treated as rough estimates of performance, not as performance guarantees. While these tests seem to indicate that the VNH2SP30 runs a bit cooler—and hence can deliver more continuous current—than the VNH5019, it is important to note that the three driver versions were tested at different times under potentially different conditions, so the results are not necessarily accurate indications of relative performance.

In our tests, we noticed that the thermal protection on the VNH5019 was activating at a lower temperature (153°C) than on the VNH2SP30 (170°C), which could partially account for the shorter VNH5019 overheating times. However, we also observed that the VNH5019 was reaching slightly higher temperatures than the VNH2SP30 when used under the same conditions: the VNH5019 reached a temperature of 85°C after 3 minutes at 10 A while the VNH2SP30 reached a temperature of 80°C.

The following table offers a comparison of the three drivers:

VNH3SP30 VNH2SP30 VNH5019
Operating voltage: (1) 5.5 – 16 V (2) 5.5 – 16 V 5.5 – 24 V
MOSFET on-resistance (per leg): 34 mΩ typ. 19 mΩ max. 18 mΩ typ.
Max PWM frequency 10 kHz 20 kHz 20 kHz
Current sense n/a 0.13 V/A typ. 0.14 V/A typ.
Over-voltage shutoff 36 V min. (2) / 43 V typ. 16 V min. / 19 V typ. 24 V min. / 27 V typ.
Logic input high threshold 3.25 V min. 3.25 V min. 2.1 V min.
Time to overheat at 20 A (3) 8 s 35 s 20 s
Time to overheat at 15 A (3) 30 s 150 s 90 s
Current for infinite run time (3) 9 A 14 A 12 A

1 The VNH3SP30 can survive input voltages up to 40 V, and the VNH2SP30 and VNH5019 can survive input voltages up to 41 V, but the over-voltage shutoff will kick in at lower voltages.
2 While VNH3SP30’s over-voltage shutoff doesn’t activate until 36 V, in our experience, shoot-through currents make PWM operation impractical above 16 V.
3 Typical results using the Pololu motor driver carrier boards with 100% duty cycle at room temperature (with no forced airflow or heat sinking beyond the carrier PCB).

Real-world power dissipation considerations

The motor drivers have maximum current ratings of 30 A continuous. However, the chips by themselves will overheat at lower currents (see table above for an example set of values). The actual current you can deliver will depend on how well you can keep the motor driver cool. Good air flow and a heat sink will allow the chip to operate at currents closer to its maximum rating without overheating.

Many motor controllers or speed controllers can have peak current ratings that are substantially higher than the continuous current rating; this is not the case with these motor drivers, which have a 30 A continuous rating and a over-current protection that can kick in as low as 30 A (45 A typical). Therefore, the stall current of your motor should not be more than 30 A. (Even if you expect to run at a much lower average current, the motor can still draw high currents when it is starting or if you use low duty cycle PWM to keep the average current down.)

Note: This motor driver IC comes in a MultiPowerSO-30 package that requires surface mounting; it is not a through-hole component. Our carrier boards give you convenient access to the VNH2SP30 and VNH3SP30 motor drivers without any surface-mount soldering.

Related Products

ST VNH3SP30 30A Motor Driver
ST VNH5019A Motor Driver IC
VNH2SP30 Motor Driver Carrier MD01B
VNH3SP30 Motor Driver Carrier MD01B
Dual VNH2SP30 Motor Driver Carrier MD03A
Dual VNH3SP30 Motor Driver Carrier MD03A
VNH5019 Motor Driver Carrier
Pololu Dual VNH5019 Motor Driver Shield for Arduino
Jrk G2 18v19 USB Motor Controller with Feedback
Pololu Qik 2s15v9 Dual Serial Motor Controller

Related Categories

Brushed DC Motor Drivers
Integrated Circuits
Motors and Gearboxes
Log In
Pololu Robotics & Electronics
Shopping cart
(702) 262-6648
Same-day shipping, worldwide
Menu
Shop Blog Forum Support
My account Comments or questions? About Pololu Contact Ordering information Distributors