{"id":405,"date":"2014-07-01T14:16:25","date_gmt":"2014-07-01T18:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/physicalcomputing\/?page_id=405"},"modified":"2025-09-26T11:09:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T15:09:11","slug":"using-a-transistor-to-control-high-current-loads-with-an-arduino","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/itp.nyu.edu\/physcomp\/labs\/motors-and-transistors\/using-a-transistor-to-control-high-current-loads-with-an-arduino\/","title":{"rendered":"Lab: Using a Transistor to Control High Current Loads with an Arduino"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/span>Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to control a high-current DC load such as a DC motor or an incandescent light from a microcontroller. Microcontrollers can only output a very small amount of current from their output pins. These pins are meant to send control signals, not to act as power supplies. The most common way to control another direct current device from a microcontroller is to use a transistor. Transistors allow you to control the flow of a high-current circuit from a low-current source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n