# Arduino Lesson 13. DC Motors ## Overview In this lesson, you will learn how to control a small DC motor using an Arduino and a transistor. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/338/medium800/learn_arduino_overview.jpg?1396782013) You will use an Arduino analog output (PWM) to control the speed of the motor by sending a number between 0 and 255 from the Serial Monitor. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-lesson-13-dc-motors/parts.md) ## Featured Products ### NPN Bipolar Transistors (PN2222) - 10 pack [NPN Bipolar Transistors (PN2222) - 10 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/756) Transistors are powerful little electronic switches, and we really like these NPN transistors whenever we need to control medium-power electronics such as small motors, solenoids, or IR LEDs. We find them so handy, they come in a pack of 10! Each transistor is a general-purpose... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/756) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/756/guides) ### DC Toy / Hobby Motor - 130 Size [DC Toy / Hobby Motor - 130 Size](https://www.adafruit.com/product/711) These are standard '130 size' DC hobby motors. They come with a wider operating range than most toy motors: from 4.5 to 9VDC instead of 1.5-4.5V. This range makes them perfect for controlling with an Adafruit Motor Shield, or with an Arduino where you are more likely to have 5 or 9V... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/711) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/711/guides) ### Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 40 x 6" (150mm) [Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 40 x 6" (150mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/758) Handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. These premium jumper wires are 6" (150mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 40 (4 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" male header contacts on either end and fit cleanly next to each other... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/758) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/758/guides) ### Half Sized Premium Breadboard - 400 Tie Points [Half Sized Premium Breadboard - 400 Tie Points](https://www.adafruit.com/product/64) This is a cute, half-size breadboard with 400 tie points, good for small projects. It's 3.25" x 2.2" / 8.3cm x 5.5cm with a standard double-strip in the middle and two power rails on both sides. You can pull the power rails off easily to make the breadboard as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/64) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/64/guides) ### Adafruit METRO 328 Fully Assembled - Arduino IDE compatible [Adafruit METRO 328 Fully Assembled - Arduino IDE compatible](https://www.adafruit.com/product/50) We sure love the ATmega328 here at Adafruit, and we use them _a lot_ for our own projects. The processor has plenty of GPIO, Analog inputs, hardware UART SPI and I2C, timers and PWM galore - just enough for most simple projects. When we need to go small, we use a Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/50) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/50/guides) ## Related Guides - [How to Build a Testing Jig](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-build-a-testing-fixture.md) - [Sending an SMS with Temboo](https://learn.adafruit.com/sending-an-sms-with-temboo.md) - [How to program a Zumo Robot with Simulink](https://learn.adafruit.com/zumo-robot-control-with-simulink.md) - [Analog Feedback Servos](https://learn.adafruit.com/analog-feedback-servos.md) - [Character LCDs](https://learn.adafruit.com/character-lcds.md) - [FTDI Friend](https://learn.adafruit.com/ftdi-friend.md) - [Wireless Gardening with Arduino + CC3000 WiFi Modules](https://learn.adafruit.com/wireless-gardening-arduino-cc3000-wifi-modules.md) - [RGB LED Matrix Basics](https://learn.adafruit.com/32x16-32x32-rgb-led-matrix.md) - [Arduino Lesson 1. Blink](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-lesson-1-blink.md) - [Arduino Lesson 15. DC Motor Reversing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-lesson-15-dc-motor-reversing.md) - [Adafruit Data Logger Shield](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-data-logger-shield.md) - [3D Printed Animatronic Robot Head](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-animatronic-robot-head.md) - [Digital Circuits 7: MCUs... how do they work?](https://learn.adafruit.com/mcus-how-do-they-work.md) - [Light Meter](https://learn.adafruit.com/light-meter.md) - [LED Lightbox](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-lightbox.md)