Linear Actuator Arduino Control using L298N Motor Control Board and RC Transmitter/Receiver

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In this tutorial I will show you how to use the L298N motor control board and write simple Arduino code to control a linear actuator using an RC controller. The L298N is a compact and inexpensive H bridge motor control board that easily interfaces with microcontrollers such as the Arduino or Raspberry Pi. Though it costs a little more than the L9110, it is capable of much higher power and can also provide 5V for your Arduino. It is also capable of dc motor speed control.

In a previous video https://youtu.be/qLltghqVrvI I used an L298N and a 3-button switch to control an industrial linear actuator. In this video, I use an L298N with an RC transmitter to extend, retract, and stop a linear actuator. I also describe the Arduino code used to interface with the L298N. In a future video, I will use and RC transmitter and receiver to control the speed and direction of the linear actuator. Please subscribe to my channel and help me reach my goal of 1,000 subscribers by the end of 2020.

The following are affiliate links for products I used in this video. Using these links will not affect the price for your purchase but may result in a small commission for me, allowing me to keep making helpful and entertaining videos.

DumboRC X6 6 Channel RC Transmitter and Receiver https://ebay.to/2zbMIvF

Pin Connections:
L298N 12V to Battery +
L298N GND to Battery –
L298N GND to Breadboard GND Rail
L298N 5V to Breadboard 5V Rail
L298N OUT1 to Linear Actuator +
L298N OUT1 to Linear Actuator –
L298N In1 to Arduino Pin 9
L298N In2 to Arduino Pin 10
Arduino GND to Breadboard GND Rail
Arduino 5V pin to Breadboard 5V Rail
RC Receiver GND to Breadboard GND Rail
RC Receiver PWR to Breadboard 5V Rail
RC Receiver Output to Arduino Pin 7

, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rj8x43r24xs/hqdefault.jpg

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19 Comments

  1. how about not using arduino,just use tiny servo module board? can we?and how to wiring the cables?thanks

  2. Hello, great project, thanks for sharing.
    I would like to know if we could write a command to steer back to the starting point after a manouver.
    For example, imagine you are driving a boat with an outboard engine; when you turn right, you don't want the engine to stay that way. When you release the steering, can the outboard (the actuator) can return to the starting point?

  3. I am using a Fly Sky FS-GT5 with an aurduino Uno and a Cytron Shield-MDD10 to control a linear actuator to extend and retract. The Cytron Shield-MDD10 can operate in a dual PWM mode and output on the Arduino pins 3 and 9 for the for the motor. According to Cytron I would use a "PWM_PWM" Command example "(PWM_PWM, 3, 9); ". Can you tell me how and where I would incorporate it into your code for the RC control?

  4. Hi! What’s the name of the product that inserts into the pin on the wiring? It looks like a black object, maybe an inch long. I’m trying to figure out what it is because when I use just the wiring, it’s too loose to stay clamped down

  5. Brilliant video. I'm using an actuator to steer my electric outboard using RC. Your example was perfect. The only thing I can seem to get to work is the potentiometer feedback automatically bringing the actuator back to a mid position after the RC steering is centred.

  6. thank you for so much help I have looked at loads of stuff on how to connect L298N to and RC Transmitter/Receiver today and this is by far the best.

  7. flysky fs-i6 transmitter , receiver, arduino uno and l298n, Work perfectly to mee, Thanks a lot Science Fun, and wit your six channel transmitter, you can control a RC mini excavator whit 4 Linear Actuator, 2 motors , arduino, and 2 more L298N driver

  8. Great channel and cool projects! Just subscribed! What is the speed of the actuator you are using? I am working on a tiller pilot for my boat and I turned an actuator into a servo using gears and a potentiometer. My model looks like yours but seems to be not that fast.

  9. I want to make the actuator return to the original position after releasing the steering on the controller.

  10. This is awesome. I’m building a miniature boat for my kids and I’d like to use this for Rudder control. Would it be possible to have the actuator at halfway at steering neutral and then proportional extend/ retract based on steering input and return to halfway when the steering is neutral? I work in automation and instrumentation in industrial systems but I’m very new to Arduinos

  11. hye i am using one of these for my project that I'm making could you explain the basics a bit more

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