Description:

The Dimenstion Engineering Sabertooth 2X5 is ideal for smaller robots- up to 3lbs in combat or 25 lbs for general purpose use. It is also a great choice in any application where you need to control two brushed motors. The Sabertooth can supply two DC brushed motors with up to 5A each continuously. Peak currents of 10A are achievable for short periods. Because Sabertooth 2x5 incorporates soft current limiting and thermal protection, you need not worry about killing the driver with accidental stalls or by hooking up too big a motor. Sabertooth allows you to control two motors with: analog voltage, radio control, serial and packetized serial. Sabertooth has independent and speed+direction operating modes, making it the ideal driver for differential drive (tank style) robots and more.  The operating mode is set with the onboard DIP switches so there are no jumpers to lose or complicated programming sequences. Sabertooth features screw terminal connectors - making it possible for you to build a robot without having to solder.

Sabertooth is the first synchronous regenerative motor driver in its class. The regenerative topology means that your batteries get recharged whenever you command your robot to slow down or reverse. Sabertooth also allows you to make very fast stops and reverses - giving your robot a quick and nimble edge. In certain operating modes Sabertooth can process up to 3000 speed commands per second. Sabertooth has a built in 5V BEC that can provide power to a microcontroller or R/C receiver. It also features a lithium cutoff mode allowing Sabertooth to operate safely with lithium ion and lithium polymer battery packs. Sabertooth's transistors are switched at ultrasonic speeds (32kHz) for silent operation.

Use of this motor drivers with cheap AC adapters is not recommended. Use a battery or at least put a battery in parallel with a DC supply.

Applications:

• Ant/Beetleweight combat robots
• Differential drive robots up to 25lb
• Radio controlled tanks, cars and boats

Specifications:

• Input Voltage: 6V to 18V, 6-12 cell NiMH or NiCd, 2s-4s LiPo, 6V or 12V lead acid (not 18+V lead acid!)
• 5A continuous per channel, 10A peak
• Synchronous regenerative drive
• Ultra-sonic switching frequency
• Thermal and overcurrent protection
• Lithium protection mode
• Input modes: Analog, R/C, simplified serial, packetized serial
• Size: 1.8” x 1.6 ” x .5”
• 45 x 40 x 13 mm
• Weight 19g / 0.7oz

Documents:

• Sabertooth 2X5 Manual
• Sabertooth 2x5 Quick Start Guide
• Using Sabertooth with RoboRealm
• Packetized PIC example code