# Improve Brushed DC Motor Performance
## Overview
Changing the motor controller’s mode of operation and finding an optimal PWM frequency can dramatically improve the control and performance of brushed DC motors. Using CircuitPython, set your motor controller's decay mode from fast to slow and select a PWM frequency below 100Hz for enhanced results.
Jump to the **Code Examples** section to see how it's done.
Works with:
- [CRICKIT FeatherWing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3343)
- [CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
- [DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3243)
- [Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1438)
- [DRV8871 DC Motor Driver Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3190)
- [DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3297)
- [TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2448)
- [L9110H H-Bridge Motor Driver](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4489)
- [L293D Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver](https://www.adafruit.com/product/807)
Supporting code libraries:
- [Adafruit Crickit for CircuitPython](https://circuitpython.readthedocs.io/projects/crickit/en/latest/api.html)
- [Adafruit Motor for CircuitPython](https://circuitpython.readthedocs.io/projects/motor/en/latest/api.html)
- [Adafruit MotorKit for CircuitPython](https://circuitpython.readthedocs.io/projects/motorkit/en/latest/api.html)
- [Adafruit MotorShield for Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-motor-shield-v2-for-arduino/library-reference)
## Parts
### Assembled DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on
[Assembled DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3243)
A Feather board without ambition is a Feather board without FeatherWings! This is the **Fully assembled (with headers) DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing** which will let you use 2 x bi-polar stepper motors or 4 x brushed DC motors (or 1 stepper and 2 DC motors). Using our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3243)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3243/guides)
### Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit
[Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1438)
The original Adafruit Motorshield kit is one of our most beloved, so we decided to make something even better. We have upgraded the shield kit to make the bestest, easiest way to drive DC and Stepper motors. This shield will make quick work for your next robotics project! We kept the ability...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1438)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1438/guides)
### Adafruit CRICKIT FeatherWing for any Feather
[Adafruit CRICKIT FeatherWing for any Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3343)
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our **friends!**
So if you find...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3343)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3343/guides)
### Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express
[Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our **friends!**
So if you find...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3093/guides)
### Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board
[Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3297)
Spin two DC motors or step one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper with up to 1.2A per channel using the DRV8833. This motor driver chip is a nice alternative to the TB6612 driver. Like that chip, you get 2 full H-bridges, but this chip is better for low voltage uses (can run from 2.7V up to 10.8V...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3297)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3297/guides)
### Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver Breakout Board - 3.6A Max
[Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver Breakout Board - 3.6A Max](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3190)
Crank up your robotics with powerful **Adafruit DRV8871 motor driver breakout board**. This motor driver has a lot of great specs that make it useful for a wide variety of mechatronics. In particular, the simple resistor-set current limiting and auto-magic PWM support make it...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3190)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3190/guides)
### Adafruit TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board
[Adafruit TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2448)
Spin two DC motors, step one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper, or fire off two solenoids with 1.2A per channel using the TB6612. These are perhaps better known as "[the drivers in our assembled Adafruit Motorshield](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1438) or
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2448)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2448/guides)
### Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC or Steppers - 600mA - L293D
[Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC or Steppers - 600mA - L293D](https://www.adafruit.com/product/807)
Run four solenoids, two DC motors, or one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper with up to 600mA per channel using the L293D. These are perhaps better known as "the drivers in our Adafruit Motorshield". If you accidentally damaged the drivers in a shield, you can use one of these puppies to...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/807)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/807/guides)
### L9110H H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC Motors - 8 DIP
[L9110H H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC Motors - 8 DIP](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4489)
Run two solenoids or a single DC motor with up to 800mA per channel using the super-simple L9110H H-bridge driver. This bridge chip is an 8 DIP package so it's easy to fit onto any breadboard or perfboard.
Each chip contains one full H-bridges (two half H-bridges). That means...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4489)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4489/guides)
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/improve-brushed-dc-motor-performance/introduction.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit CRICKIT FeatherWing for any Feather
[Adafruit CRICKIT FeatherWing for any Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3343)
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our **friends!**
So if you find...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3343)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3343/guides)
### Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express
[Adafruit CRICKIT for Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
Sometimes we wonder if robotics engineers ever watch movies. If they did, they'd know that making robots into servants always ends up in a robot rebellion. Why even go down that path? Here at Adafruit, we believe in making robots our **friends!**
So if you find...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3093/guides)
### Assembled DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on
[Assembled DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing Add-on](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3243)
A Feather board without ambition is a Feather board without FeatherWings! This is the **Fully assembled (with headers) DC Motor + Stepper FeatherWing** which will let you use 2 x bi-polar stepper motors or 4 x brushed DC motors (or 1 stepper and 2 DC motors). Using our
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3243)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3243/guides)
### Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit
[Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1438)
The original Adafruit Motorshield kit is one of our most beloved, so we decided to make something even better. We have upgraded the shield kit to make the bestest, easiest way to drive DC and Stepper motors. This shield will make quick work for your next robotics project! We kept the ability...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1438)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1438/guides)
### Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver Breakout Board - 3.6A Max
[Adafruit DRV8871 DC Motor Driver Breakout Board - 3.6A Max](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3190)
Crank up your robotics with powerful **Adafruit DRV8871 motor driver breakout board**. This motor driver has a lot of great specs that make it useful for a wide variety of mechatronics. In particular, the simple resistor-set current limiting and auto-magic PWM support make it...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3190)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3190/guides)
### Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board
[Adafruit DRV8833 DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3297)
Spin two DC motors or step one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper with up to 1.2A per channel using the DRV8833. This motor driver chip is a nice alternative to the TB6612 driver. Like that chip, you get 2 full H-bridges, but this chip is better for low voltage uses (can run from 2.7V up to 10.8V...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3297)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3297/guides)
### Adafruit TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board
[Adafruit TB6612 1.2A DC/Stepper Motor Driver Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2448)
Spin two DC motors, step one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper, or fire off two solenoids with 1.2A per channel using the TB6612. These are perhaps better known as "[the drivers in our assembled Adafruit Motorshield](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1438) or
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2448)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2448/guides)
### Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC or Steppers - 600mA - L293D
[Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver for DC or Steppers - 600mA - L293D](https://www.adafruit.com/product/807)
Run four solenoids, two DC motors, or one bi-polar or uni-polar stepper with up to 600mA per channel using the L293D. These are perhaps better known as "the drivers in our Adafruit Motorshield". If you accidentally damaged the drivers in a shield, you can use one of these puppies to...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/807)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/807/guides)
## Related Guides
- [All About Stepper Motors](https://learn.adafruit.com/all-about-stepper-motors.md)
- [Adding an Accelerometer to your FeatherWing Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-an-accelerometer-to-you-cricket-featherwing.md)
- [Current Limiting Stepper Driver with DRV8871](https://learn.adafruit.com/current-limiting-stepper-driver-with-drv8871.md)
- [Animatronic Hand](https://learn.adafruit.com/animatronic-hands.md)
- [Cardboard Fundamentals](https://learn.adafruit.com/cardboard-fundamentals.md)
- [Mini Golf Course with Circuit Playground and Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-golf-course-with-makecode-circuit-playground-crickit.md)
- [Paper Airplane Launcher](https://learn.adafruit.com/paper-airplane-launcher-with-crickit.md)
- [Adafruit Motor Selection Guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-motor-selection-guide.md)
- [Astrolite NeoPixel Upgrade](https://learn.adafruit.com/astrolite-neopixel-upgrade.md)
- [MIDI Solenoid Drummer](https://learn.adafruit.com/midi-solenoid-drummer.md)
- [Improve the Low Speed of Brushed DC Motors](https://learn.adafruit.com/improve-low-speed-performance-of-brushed-dc-motors.md)
- [Infrared Hand Gesture Robot Control Glove](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpx-ir-infrared-hand-gesture-robot-control-glove.md)
- [Bluefruit Ouija Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluefruit-ouija-board.md)
- [CurieBot: Arduino 101 Mini Robot Rover](https://learn.adafruit.com/curiebot-arduino-101-mini-robot-rover.md)
- [Adafruit NeoPixel FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-featherwing.md)