# Is this like the Sangaboard?
**URL:** https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776
**Category:** Request Help
**Created:** [21 January 2022 22:48 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776 "2022-01-21T22:48:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [21 January 2022 22:48 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/1 "2022-01-21T22:48:31Z")
I found this arduino nano shield. Before buying I would like to know your opinion is this will work and how is different from the sangaboard.
> **[28BYJ-48 5V ULN2003A JST Stepper Motor Driver Shield for Arduino Nano | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/174691515202?hash=item28ac6cfb42:g:mnkAAOSwuZZgU7-T)**
>
> Simple and easy to use stepper motor driver shield for 28BYJ-48 5V Unipolar stepper motors. Drive up to three 28BYJ-48 5V stepper motors using powerful ULN2003A driver IC. Four red LED's next to each JST motor connector for visualization of which...
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### Author:  [@r.w.bowman](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/r.w.bowman)
#### Post date: [22 January 2022 04:30 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/2 "2022-01-22T04:30:22Z")
This looks a lot like v2 of the Sangaboard. Good spot! I would have thought it could be made to work, though the pinout may be different, so it might require some modification of the Arduino firmware to use the right pins for the motors.
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### Author:  [@r.w.bowman](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/r.w.bowman)
#### Post date: [22 January 2022 04:33 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/3 "2022-01-22T04:33:51Z")
The ordering of the pins within each motor may or may not be the same, but the three motors map to the same 12 digital outputs we use for the Sangaboard. So it’s possible you won’t need to change anything 🙂
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### Author:  [@WilliamW](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/WilliamW)
#### Post date: [22 January 2022 11:48 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/4 "2022-01-22T11:48:20Z")
It uses the same Arduino pins as the Sangaboard, but it does appear to be in reverse order for each motor. That probably just makes them rotate in the opposite direction if anything. There is a direction reverse software button in the web app anyway.
It is not clear how the 5V power for the motors is derived on that board. At first sight it is 5V taken from the Arduino, which would not provide sufficient current. There is no separate motor power pad visible. There is a 5V and GND on the lower connector, so it would at least be possible to remove the pin from the 5V output of the Arduino so that it does not connect to this board, then supply 5V for the motors to the 5V and GND pins on the edge of this board. It may be that the motor power is connected to VIN, which should be OK. Providing 5V on VIN on the board when the Arduino also has power from the USB connection to the Pi should not be a problem.
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [22 January 2022 14:08 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/5 "2022-01-22T14:08:26Z")
These are screenshots of the driver shield. more Information [here](https://www.electreim.com/28byj-nano/). I think you are right. the 5v is coming from the USB. I could just cut the 5v cables from the stepper motor and use the external power source.
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### Author:  [@WilliamW](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/WilliamW)
#### Post date: [23 January 2022 21:18 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/6 "2022-01-23T21:18:47Z")
Wiring to each motor separately might be a bit of a pain. I would get a board and have a look at where the traces go on the underside, there is almost certainly a way to get an external 5V to feed the three motor sockets.
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [23 January 2022 22:20 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/7 "2022-01-23T22:20:27Z")
The developer just confirmed that is possible to connect external power to the 5v pins like this. Wondering what happens if I draw the power from the Rpi 5v pin. Need to experiment. Shipping coming on Thursday.
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### Author:  [@r.w.bowman](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/r.w.bowman)
#### Post date: [8 February 2022 17:31 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/8 "2022-02-08T17:31:16Z")
Hi @dgrosen I’ll be excited to see how you get on - if it works, it’s a much neater solution than the current nano-plus-three-boards version and I suspect others will want to order it! If the motor wiring is backwards, we should be able to figure it out in the firmware easily enough - do ping me and we can figure it out. It may actually just mean that the motors turn in the opposite direction; that wouldn’t need a firmware change at all, and should come out when you run the auto calibration.
I don’t recommend powering the motors from the Pi’s 5v pin, there is a real risk of messing with the Pi’s power line and blowing a fuse. It’s probably not terminal, but it will get pretty annoying I think, as you might cause the Pi to restart or get glitchy. I have, in the past, split the power from a reasonably over-specced 5V power supply (one of the offical Raspberry Pi ones) so that it powers the Pi and the motors in parallel (this means you don’t go through the polyfuse on the Pi, so there’s no risk of tripping it out), but that results in messy wiring. The Sangaboard v4 uses the 0v and 5v pins on the Pi to _supply_ power, which should work neatly - but carries a significant risk that if you get it wrong, you blow up the Pi. I wouldn’t recommend that to anybody wiring it up with jumper wires, we only do it with the Sangaboard because it’s “HAT” shaped and thus quite hard to connect incorrectly.
So, if you can, separate power supplies are best - if you can’t it’s best to split it before the Pi. If you do try powering it from the Pi and don’t have problems with under-voltage, I would be very happy to hear about it! I suspect it’s relatively unlikely that doing that will destroy the Pi - but it’s moderately likely that you’ll trip the polyfuse and need to wait for it to reset.
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [15 February 2022 16:00 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/9 "2022-02-15T16:00:39Z")
I’ve been testing this shield for 2 weeks now and works fine. It is powered via the USB cable only. So far no fuse destroyed, no under voltage detected, no overheating either. 🥵
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6xTa6mqa0g)
If this holds up is a good solution for me. I broke even with the upgrade, The official Rpi power supply is $7.99 and the Driver Shield $7.99 when you buy 4 of them. 🤑 Furthermore, I got rid of a power cable and dont have to do the nasty wiring between the Arduino and the stepper motor drivers. Is a win, win, win for me 🙂
> **[Raspberry Pi 4 Official 15W Power Supply US - Black; 5.1V / 3.0A DC output;...](https://www.microcenter.com/product/608170/raspberry-pi-4-official-15w-power-supply-us-black)**
>
> Get it now! The official Raspberry Pi USB-C Power Supply is designed to power Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and Raspberry Pi 400 computers. 5.1V / 3.0A DC output. 96-264Vac operating input range. Short circuit, overcurrent and over temperature protection....
> **[28BYJ-48 5V ULN2003A JST Stepper Motor Driver Shield for Arduino Nano | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/174691515202?hash=item28ac6cfb42:g:mnkAAOSwuZZgU7-T)**
>
> Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 28BYJ-48 5V ULN2003A JST Stepper Motor Driver Shield for Arduino Nano at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
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### Author:  [@r.w.bowman](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/r.w.bowman)
#### Post date: [15 February 2022 16:27 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/10 "2022-02-15T16:27:49Z")
result! Well done. I imagine there will be a bunch of people who want to follow suit 🙂 Have you figured out a nice solution to mount it in the base?
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [15 February 2022 17:15 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/11 "2022-02-15T17:15:30Z")
I forgot to take pictures before assembling. I used the new OFM box and modified the drawer to accommodate the shield. Nothing elegant. There has to be a better way. Added a support column, some support on the wall and moved the USB hole up. The screw holes are so small that I decided to use my hot glue gun to keep it in place. It works
[drawer for driver shield.stl](https://openflexure.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/baNbInOFKQd4v2wR1SjQGcblRQO.stl) (219.9 KB)
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### Author:  [@BeattieScience](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/BeattieScience)
#### Post date: [16 February 2022 22:49 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/12 "2022-02-16T22:49:04Z")
I would love to buy some of these arduino motor shields, but it doesn’t look like the ebay seller ships internationally. Does anyone know where else these can be sourced? Thanks in advance!
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [16 February 2022 23:16 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/13 "2022-02-16T23:16:05Z")
The link took me to eBay in the USA. That is where I bought it and got them in 3-4 days. You can contact the company directly and ask. They replied to me on the same day.
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### Author:  [@WilliamW](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/WilliamW)
#### Post date: [17 February 2022 10:51 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/14 "2022-02-17T10:51:32Z")
Electreim ([https://www.electreim.com/](https://www.electreim.com/)) seems to be an individual in the US and makes just a few boards of this type.
The ebay listing has only US as a shipping option, but does say contact seller for other shipping options.
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### Author:  [@BeattieScience](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/BeattieScience)
#### Post date: [17 February 2022 17:39 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/15 "2022-02-17T17:39:11Z")
Thank you! They wrote back quickly and made shipping to Canada available.
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### Author:  [@dgrosen](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/dgrosen)
#### Post date: [21 February 2022 23:06 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/16 "2022-02-21T23:06:16Z")
By the way, I will appreciate any better idea how to position the shield inside the box
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### Author:  [@WilliamW](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/WilliamW)
#### Post date: [23 February 2022 11:16 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/17 "2022-02-23T11:16:10Z")
The positioning looks good to me 😉. Hot melt glue is remarkably common in fixing for electronic components. Without any sensible holes in the board you would need to have some complicated clamp to do much better than hot melt glue.
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### Author:  [@r.w.bowman](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/r.w.bowman)
#### Post date: [23 February 2022 14:33 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/18 "2022-02-23T14:33:58Z")
@dgrosen could you share your modified drawer? Posting it here is probably easiest…
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### Author:  [@WilliamW](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/WilliamW)
#### Post date: [24 February 2022 13:02 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/19 "2022-02-24T13:02:02Z")
The STL is at the bottom of the post with photos in, except that it seems to be missing the ‘tower’ clip on the side away from the ports.
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### Author:  [@Ray](https://openflexure.discourse.group/u/Ray)
#### Post date: [6 October 2022 09:45 UTC](https://openflexure.discourse.group/t/is-this-like-the-sangaboard/776/20 "2022-10-06T09:45:18Z")
By powered using only USB is it only using the cable connecting to the Arduino to the Pi?
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