Pot controlled DC Motor

[cottimonster]

Im trying (very unsuccessfully) to control a DC motor with a pot and a motorshield. I have very little (none before last month) knowledge in programming and am looking for some help. This is the code i have so far'

Code: Select all

#include <AFMotor.h>


AF_DCMotor motor(2);

const int PotPin = A0; // Change this if pot is connected to another pin

int direction = FORWARD;   // Where we are going
int speed = 0;            // How fast
int potVal = 506;         // Current potvalue

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
  Serial.begin(9600);
 
  motor.setSpeed(255);
 
  motor.run(RELEASE);
}

void loop() {
  // read the input on the pot:
  potVal = analogRead(PotPin);
  if (potVal < 506)   
  { // Smaller than 506 so we're going forward
    direction = FORWARD;
    // Map value from pot-range to motorspeed-range
    speed = map(potVal, 0, 506, 255, 0);
  }
  else
  { // Otherwise, we're going backward
    direction = BACKWARD;
    // Map value from pot-range to motorspeed-range
    speed = map(potVal, 507, 1024, 0, 255);
  }  

  // print out the variables:
  Serial.print("Read: ");
  Serial.print(potVal);
  Serial.print(" direction: ");
  if (direction==FORWARD)
    Serial.print("Forward");
  else
    Serial.print("Backward");
  Serial.print(" Speed: ");
  Serial.println(speed);   // End of line, so also make it go a line

 
  delay(1);        // delay in between reads for stability
}

[adafruit_support_bill]

Post a photo of the front and back of your shield and we'll see if we can spot any problems.

[cottimonster]

I ran the adafruit motor test and everything ran perfect and the serial monitor reads correctly so i think the error is in the mapping the pot value code(which i have no idea if im doing it correctly)

thanks for the help

[adafruit_support_bill]

Code: Select all

void loop() {
  // read the input on the pot:
  potVal = analogRead(PotPin);

You read the pot correctly.

Code: Select all

  if (potVal < 506)   
  { // Smaller than 506 so we're going forward
    direction = FORWARD;
    // Map value from pot-range to motorspeed-range
    speed = map(potVal, 0, 506, 255, 0);
  }
  else
  { // Otherwise, we're going backward
    direction = BACKWARD;
    // Map value from pot-range to motorspeed-range
    speed = map(potVal, 507, 1024, 0, 255);
  }  

You map the speed and direction correctly.

Code: Select all

  // print out the variables:
  Serial.print("Read: ");
  Serial.print(potVal);
  Serial.print(" direction: ");
  if (direction==FORWARD)
    Serial.print("Forward");
  else
    Serial.print("Backward");
  Serial.print(" Speed: ");
  Serial.println(speed);   // End of line, so also make it go a line

 
  delay(1);        // delay in between reads for stability
}

You print out the speed and direction. But you never set the speed and direction on the motor.