The DRV8874 is a brushed DC motor driver with a 4.5 to 37 V supply, 6 A peak current, 200 mΩ total on-resistance and built-in current sensing and regulation, so the chip can limit motor current without help from the controller. A proportional current output (IPROPI) lets a microcontroller detect a stall. It is the high-current step above the DRV8871 and the TB6612FNG. Figures are from the Texas Instruments datasheet SLVSF66A.
Key specifications
| Supply | 4.5–37 V |
|---|---|
| Peak current | 6 A (DRV8876: 3.5 A) |
| RDS(on) | 200 mΩ HS+LS |
| Current sense | IPROPI output |
| Current regulation | VREF, IMODE |
| Sleep | <1 µA at 24 V |
What the datasheet promises
| Item | Datasheet value |
|---|---|
| Supply voltage | 4.5 to 37 V |
| Peak output current | 6 A (DRV8874); 3.5 A (pin-compatible DRV8876) |
| On-resistance, high side plus low side | 200 mΩ (DRV8874); 700 mΩ (DRV8876). At 24 V and 2 A the characteristics table gives 100 mΩ typical per switch |
| Motors | One bidirectional brushed DC motor, or two unidirectional ones |
| Current sensing | IPROPI proportional current output, no large power shunt needed |
| Current regulation | Set with VREF, cycle-by-cycle or fixed off time (IMODE) |
| Control modes | PH/EN, PWM, or independent half-bridge (PMODE) |
| Logic inputs | 1.8 V, 3.3 V and 5 V |
| Sleep current | Under 1 µA at 24 V and 25 °C |
| Other | Spread-spectrum clocking to reduce EMI |
| Protection | Undervoltage lockout, charge-pump undervoltage, output overcurrent and overtemperature |
The 6 A is a peak figure. Continuous current depends on the board’s copper, airflow and supply voltage, as for any driver, so read the thermal section of the datasheet and size it to the stall current of your motor.
Using it on a robot
- Set the current regulation level with the VREF pin so a stalled wheel is limited by the chip instead of tripping a protection or heating the motor.
- Read IPROPI with an ADC to detect a stall or a jam, as with an external INA180 but with no extra part.
- Place a bulk capacitor on the motor supply close to the driver.
- Tie nSLEEP high to run, and pick the control mode with the PMODE pin before you power up.
Sources and further reading
- Texas Instruments DRV8874 datasheet (SLVSF66A) — every figure in the table above.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Limits are from the Texas Instruments datasheet for the chip; breakout boards vary. No price is quoted because it has not been checked.
Where to buy in India
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