TB6612FNG Motor Driver

Toshiba dual H-bridge motor driver that runs two DC motors (or one bipolar stepper) at 1.2A continuous per channel using MOSFET outputs.

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TB6612FNG Motor Driver: Dual DC motor driver

What is the TB6612FNG Motor Driver?

The TB6612FNG is a dual H-bridge motor driver from Toshiba built around MOSFET output stages. On a SparkFun-style carrier it exposes two independent channels, A and B, each able to drive one brushed DC motor, while the two channels together can drive a single bipolar stepper. Each channel delivers 1.2A of continuous current and tolerates peaks up to 3.2A.

Each channel is steered by two direction inputs (AIN1/AIN2 for channel A, BIN1/BIN2 for channel B) plus a dedicated PWM speed input (PWMA and PWMB). The direction pins select one of four states: forward, reverse, short brake, and stop, and the PWM pin (usable up to 100kHz) sets speed. A shared STBY pin enables or disables both bridges at once. Logic runs on VCC of 2.7-5.5V, so the control side interfaces directly with 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers.

Motor power enters on a separate VM rail (up to 13.5V), isolated from the logic supply. Because the outputs are low on-resistance MOSFETs with integrated diodes, the TB6612FNG runs cooler and drops less voltage than older bipolar drivers such as the L298N, and it needs no external flyback diodes. Built-in thermal shutdown and low-voltage detection guard the device during faults.

TB6612FNG Motor Driver pinout

Pin	Function	Type
`VM` VM	Power	Power in
`VCC` VCC	Power	Power in
`GND_VM` GND	Power	Power in
`A1` A1	Digital DC motor bridge output	Free
`A2` A2	Digital DC motor bridge output	Free
`B1` B1	Digital DC motor bridge output	Free
`B2` B2	Digital DC motor bridge output	Free
`GND_AUX` GND	Power	Power in
`PWMA` PWMA	Digital · PWM	Digital input
`AIN2` AIN2	Digital	Digital input
`AIN1` AIN1	Digital	Digital input
`STBY` STBY	Digital	Digital input
`BIN1` BIN1	Digital	Digital input
`BIN2` BIN2	Digital	Digital input
`PWMB` PWMB	Digital · PWM	Digital input
`GND_LOGIC` GND	Power	Power in

Specifications

Operating voltage: 5 V (max 13.5 V)
Interface: gpio
Dimensions: 20.4 × 11.2 × 20 mm

Verified from the Tinkered component library · Toshiba / SparkFun-style TB6612FNG carrier.

Circuit requirements

Feed the motors on VM (up to 13.5V) and power the logic separately on VCC at 2.7-5.5V, matched to your microcontroller's logic level.
Tie all grounds together: the driver GND pins, the motor supply ground, and the microcontroller ground must share one common reference.
Pull STBY high to enable the outputs. The driver stays in standby with both bridges off whenever STBY is low or left floating.
Each channel handles 1.2A continuous and 3.2A peak, so keep the motor's stall current within that budget or parallel the two channels to drive one higher-current motor.
The MOSFET H-bridges include body diodes, so external flyback diodes are not required. Add a decoupling capacitor across VM and GND to absorb switching transients.
Drive PWMA and PWMB from PWM-capable pins (up to 100kHz) for speed control, and set rotation direction with the AIN and BIN pin pairs.

Board compatibility

The TB6612FNG Motor Driver connects to any of the microcontrollers supported in Tinkered. Mind the 5 V logic level on 3.3 V boards.

Simulate the TB6612FNG Motor Driver in your browser

The TB6612FNG Motor Driver is fully simulated in Tinkered. Wire it into a circuit, write your firmware, and read real values back with no physical hardware. Test your logic before you touch a breadboard.

Open it in the simulator

Common TB6612FNG Motor Driver mistakes

Leaving STBY low or floating

STBY is an active-high enable. If it is not driven high, both H-bridges stay in standby and the motors never move no matter what the direction or PWM pins do. Tie STBY to a GPIO you set high, or pull it up to VCC.

No common ground

The logic ground, the motor supply ground, and the microcontroller ground must all connect. Without a shared reference the direction and PWM signals are undefined relative to the driver, causing erratic or dead outputs.

Confusing VM and VCC

VM is the motor supply (up to 13.5V) and VCC is the logic supply (2.7-5.5V). Powering the logic from the motor rail, or exceeding 5.5V on VCC, can damage the IC. Keep the two rails separate and within range.

Exceeding the current rating

A motor whose stall current tops 1.2A continuous or 3.2A peak will trip the thermal shutdown or overheat the driver. Check the motor's stall current, and parallel the A and B channels when one motor needs more headroom.

Setting both direction inputs to the same level

Both inputs high is short brake and both low is stop, so neither produces rotation. Motion requires complementary levels on AIN1/AIN2 (or BIN1/BIN2) together with the PWM pin held high.

TB6612FNG Motor Driver datasheet

Official TB6612FNG Motor Driver datasheetToshiba / SparkFun-style TB6612FNG carrier

Popular TB6612FNG Motor Driver projects

Two-wheel robot car

Drive the left and right gear motors from channels A and B for a differential-drive chassis with independent speed and direction on each side.

Line follower and obstacle avoider

Pair the driver with IR or ultrasonic sensors so an Arduino can steer a small bot by adjusting the PWMA and PWMB duty cycles in real time.

Bipolar stepper controller

Use both channels together to energize the two coils of a small bipolar stepper for precise positioning in a pan-tilt rig or mini CNC axis.

Speed-controlled conveyor or fan

Run a single DC motor with smooth PWM speed control while keeping the second channel free for a pump, actuator, or second motor.

Build with the TB6612FNG Motor Driver.

Drop the TB6612FNG Motor Driver into a circuit, write firmware, and simulate it in your browser, then deploy to real hardware. All in one editable Tinkered project.

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