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Multiwatt-15 · L298N
ActiveDual Full-Bridge Motor Driver
L298N
STMicroelectronics · Multiwatt-15 · Dual Full-Bridge Motor Driver
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Overview
The L298N is STMicroelectronics monolithic dual full-bridge driver and the silicon inside practically every red L298N motor module sold into the Arduino, robotics and education markets. The output stage is built from bipolar Darlington transistors rather than MOSFETs, which buys a 46 V motor rail, TTL-compatible inputs and a remarkable tolerance to misuse — and pays for it in voltage drop. At 2 A per channel the source side loses 2.0 V typical (2.7 V maximum) and the sink side another 1.7 V typical (2.3 V maximum), with a total drop reaching 4.9 V in the worst case. On a 12 V rail that is roughly 30 percent of the supply converted to heat in the package tab, and it is the single most important specification to internalise before choosing this part over a MOSFET bridge such as the TB6612FNG or DRV8833.
Control is plain parallel logic. IN1 and IN2 drive bridge A, IN3 and IN4 drive bridge B, and independent EN A and EN B enable inputs accept PWM for speed control or for chopping-based current regulation. A separate VSS logic rail of 4.5 V to 7 V lets 3.3 V and 5 V microcontrollers interface directly with no level shifting. SENSE A and SENSE B bring the low-side current return out of the package, so an external 0.5 ohm resistor produces a sense voltage for overcurrent protection or fixed off-time chopping when paired with an L297 or L6506 controller. The L298 has no internal flyback diodes: ST requires an external bridge of four fast-recovery or Schottky diodes per bridge, with trr below 200 ns and VF below 1.2 V at 2 A, whenever inductive loads are switched or the inputs are chopped.
Thermal design is not optional. Total dissipation is 25 W at a case temperature of 75 °C with a junction-to-case resistance of 3 °C/W in Multiwatt-15 (tab tied to pin 8, GND), junction operation is rated to 130 °C, and overtemperature protection is built in. When repetitive peak current must exceed 2 A the datasheet permits paralleling: channel 1 with channel 4 and channel 2 with channel 3, which delivers up to 3 A DC and 3.5 A repetitive peak on a single load. Quiescent draw is significant — 22 mA typical from VS and 36 mA typical from VSS with inputs high — so it is a poor fit for battery-only products.
Sourcing note: ST lists three mechanically different order codes for the same die, L298N (Multiwatt-15 vertical), L298HN (horizontal) and L298P (PowerSO20), so specify the suffix explicitly on the BOM. Genuine ST parts carry a laser-etched logo and a moulded tab marking; remarked clones usually show ink-stamped text that acetone lifts and a saturation drop well above 2 V at 2 A, which is easy to catch on incoming inspection with a 2 A load bank. Shenzhen stock is deep and MOQ is typically one tube (25 pcs) for prototyping or 500 pcs for volume, shipping in one to two business days.
Key Features
- Dual full-bridge, 2 A DC per channel, 2.5 A repetitive and 3 A for 100 µs
- 46 V motor rail with a separate 4.5 V to 7 V logic supply
- TTL-compatible parallel inputs plus independent EN A and EN B for PWM
- SENSE pins bring the low-side return out for external shunt current limiting
- Bridges can be paralleled (1 with 4, 2 with 3) for 3 A DC on one load
Typical Applications
- Bipolar two-phase stepper motors in hobby CNC, plotters and printer prototypes
- Two brushed DC motors in robotics platforms and STEM education kits
- Unipolar stepper motors with the centre taps tied to VS
- Relay, solenoid and clutch-coil banks up to 46 V
- Field-serviceable through-hole designs and legacy equipment repair
Specifications
- Number of Channels
- 2 (Dual Full-Bridge)
- Logic Interface
- TTL-Compatible Parallel (IN1-IN4, EN A, EN B)
- Motor Supply Voltage (VS, Max)
- 46 V
- Logic Supply Voltage (VSS)
- 4.5 to 7 V
- DC Output Current per Channel
- 2 A
- Peak Output Current per Channel (t = 100 µs)
- 3 A
- Output Saturation Voltage (Source, Typ @ 2 A)
- 2.0 V
- Output Saturation Voltage (Sink, Typ @ 2 A)
- 1.7 V
- Pins
- 15
- RoHS
- Compliant
Procurement Tips
Specify the exact suffix on the BOM — L298N (Multiwatt-15 vertical), L298HN (horizontal) or L298P (PowerSO20) — because the three are electrically identical but mechanically incompatible, and always line up eight fast-recovery or Schottky diodes per device on the same BOM line. For any battery-powered design above 1 A continuous, ask us to quote the TB6612FNG or DRV8833 as an alternate before you freeze the layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
L298N versus TB6612FNG — which should I design in?
It comes down to efficiency and voltage. The L298N Darlington bridge drops 2.0 V source plus 1.7 V sink typical at 2 A, so on a 12 V rail you lose about a third of your supply as heat and you need a heatsink. The TB6612FNG uses a DMOS bridge with 0.5 ohm upper-plus-lower ON-resistance, dropping only 0.5 V typical (0.7 V max) at 1 A, so it runs cool with no heatsink — but it is limited to a 13.5 V motor rail and 1.2 A continuous. Choose the L298N above 13.5 V or above 1.2 A; choose the TB6612FNG (or DRV8833 for 10.8 V systems) for battery runtime and board density.
Why does my motor only see about 8 V from a 12 V supply?
That is the bipolar saturation drop, not a fault. At 2 A the high-side Darlington loses about 2.0 V and the low-side about 1.7 V, leaving roughly 8.3 V across the winding. Remedies: raise VS (the L298N tolerates 46 V), reduce current, parallel both bridges for a lower effective drop, or move to a MOSFET driver such as the TB6612FNG, DRV8833 or DRV8871.
Can the L298N drive a unipolar stepper motor?
Yes. Tie the two centre taps of a five- or six-wire unipolar motor to VS and drive the four coil ends from Out 1 to Out 4; sequence the inputs with an MCU or an L297. The same applies to the ULN2803 and ULN2003 Darlington arrays, which are the classic unipolar sink drivers. Note that the A4988 and DRV8825 are bipolar-only devices with internal current choppers and indexers — they cannot drive a unipolar motor unless you ignore the centre taps and use the winding as a bipolar pair.
Do I need external flyback diodes with the L298N?
Yes, they are mandatory. ST specifies an external bridge of four fast-recovery diodes per bridge (trr below 200 ns, VF below 1.2 V at 2 A) whenever inductive loads are driven or the inputs are chopped, and Schottky types are preferred. The eight-diode bank on commercial L298N modules is not decoration. Driving a motor without them will eventually punch through the output stage on the back-EMF spike.
How much heatsinking does the L298N need at 2 A?
Budget about 7.4 W in the device: roughly 3.7 V of total saturation drop times 2 A. Multiwatt-15 has a junction-to-case resistance of 3 °C/W and about 35 °C/W junction-to-ambient bare, so without a heatsink the junction hits its 130 °C limit almost immediately at 2 A continuous. Use a clip-on or PCB-mount heatsink with thermal grease and a copper pour on the tab pin, and keep total dissipation under 25 W at a 75 °C case.
Can I run both bridges in parallel for more current?
Yes. ST's application section shows paralleling for higher repetitive peak current: connect Out 1 with Out 4 and Out 2 with Out 3, drive IN1 with IN4 and IN2 with IN3, and tie EN A to EN B. That configuration is rated to 3 A DC and 3.5 A repetitive peak. Do not parallel Out 1 with Out 2 — the two channels of one bridge are complementary and will short the supply.
How do I spot a counterfeit or remarked L298N?
Check three things. First, the marking: genuine ST Multiwatt-15 parts are laser-etched with a crisp logo and a traceable date code, while remarked parts have ink that lifts with acetone and inconsistent font spacing. Second, the tab: it should be firmly bonded and plated matte tin, not re-tinned and shiny. Third, electrically: apply 2 A and measure the total saturation drop — a genuine L298N stays near 3.7 V typical and below 4.9 V, whereas clones with smaller dies read much higher and get hot fast. We sample-test every lot on a load bank and can supply a certificate of conformance.
What is the MOQ and lead time?
MOQ is one tube (25 pcs) of L298N for prototype quantities or 500 pcs for volume pricing, with assembled L298N modules also available in packs of 10. Shenzhen stock ships in one to two business days; ST authorized-channel replenishment runs eight to fourteen weeks, longer during allocation.
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