user28967: I'm just getting into electronics in general and I'm confused a bit as to why I'd want/need to use a motor driver board instead of just setting up my own transistor/diode/etc when attempting to power and control a DC motor.
Any chance someone could clarify the point to using a motor driver board instead (assuming there is another option as I think there to be)?

user4143: A motor driver board is just a convenient way of creating what is known as a "H Bridge". This is an arrangement of 4 (or more, but 4 primary) transistors.
You can make it yourself with discrete transistors, but it is simpler to just use a pre-made chip.

A H Bridge gives you greater control over a motor than a single transistor alone. It allows you to control the direction, which you can't do with a single transistor, and it also gives you access to braking modes where the motor becomes harder to turn thus assisting in slowing down the load.
With a single transistor you can turn the motor on and off (or vary the speed if you use PWM) but that is all.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

28967: <p>I'm just getting into electronics in general and I'm confused a bit as to why I'd want/need to use a motor driver board instead of just setting up my own transistor/diode/etc when attempting to power and control a DC motor.</p>

<p>Any chance someone could clarify the point to using a motor driver board instead (assuming there is another option as I think there to be)?</p>
 4143: <p>A motor driver board is just a convenient way of creating what is known as a "H Bridge". This is an arrangement of 4 (or more, but 4 primary) transistors.</p>

<p>You can make it yourself with discrete transistors, but it is simpler to just use a pre-made chip.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/U3d8Y.gif" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/U3d8Y.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>A H Bridge gives you greater control over a motor than a single transistor alone. It allows you to control the direction, which you can't do with a single transistor, and it also gives you access to braking modes where the motor becomes harder to turn thus assisting in slowing down the load.</p>

<p>With a single transistor you can turn the motor on and off (or vary the speed if you use PWM) but that is all.</p>



<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/xRFWY.png" alt="schematic"></p>



<p><sup><a href="/plugins/schematics?image=http%3a%2f%2fi.stack.imgur.com%2fxRFWY.png">simulate this circuit</a> &ndash; Schematic created using <a href="https://www.circuitlab.com/" rel="noreferrer">CircuitLab</a></sup></p>
