No power flowing, please help

I am using an Arduino ADK with a motor control plugin (the thing with several pins that sits on top of the Arduino board), and I have the arduino connected to a PS3 controller via bluetooth. I am sure that that part is working properly. However, when I connect a battery to the plugin and then connect a DC motor on the other end, I find that the controller does not do anything. Further looking into it, I checked both ends with a meter. The battery was putting out 20.2 V, whereas the receiving end with the motor measured at 0. I have two of the boards and it is doing it on both of them. Did I not do something that I should have? Any help at all would be appreciated, as I need to get this working for a robotics competition in a few months. Thanks.

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shabaz over 9 years ago

Hi Tyler,

Can you supply the information below, and specifically mention what battery you're using, and exactly what/where you're probing (mark it on a diagram or photo) to see your 0V measurement.
As it stands, the information is insufficient to give good advice. Hopefully with the additional information we can make suggestions.

What hardware, tools and software I'm using
(e.g. part number, link to the tools and software)
Non-blurry photographs of the set-up (zoomed out for context, and detail), and video if needed

Code snippet or schematic showing the problem area

Entire code and schematics if possible in attachments
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Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to shabaz

Shabaz,
Thank you so much for replying. I am using a Ridgid 4.0 Ah Li-ion drill battery. As for the diagram:
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Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to shabaz

Shabaz,
Thank you so much for replying. I am using a Ridgid 4.0 Ah Li-ion drill battery. As for the diagram:
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shabaz over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

Product documentation, or a part number leading to a product URL and some documentation is needed for that motor controller board. Where did you get it, and how do you know which pins on the Arduino are used to control the motor?
It is expected to see 0V on the motor outputs, until the correct logic level inputs are applied to the board. It would be guesswork to know what pins need what signals, without documentation (or manually tracing the wires and examining the part numbers of the components on the board).
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Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to shabaz

There is nothing that resembles a number on the underside of either the motor shield or the board itself. Here is the website for the board we are using https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMegaADK. The motor thing that connects into the board is "The USB host interface given by MAX3421E IC". Does that help?
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shabaz over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

No, need the documentation or product page for the motor controller board, not the Arduino board. How did you determine what pins needed driving, without the documentation?
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