SyRen 10/ SyRen 20 motor driver users guide July 2006 Input voltage: 6-24V nominal, 30V absolute max. Output Current: Up to 10A/20A continuous. Peak loads may be up to 15A/30A for a few seconds. These ratings are for input voltages up to 18v in still air without additional heatsinking. For thermal, airflow and voltage rating charts for voltages over 18V see the back inside cover. Recommended power sources are: 5 to 18 cells NiMH or NiCd 2s to 6s lithium ion or lithium polymer. SyRen motor drivers have a lithium battery mode to prevent cell damage due to over-discharge of lithium battery packs. 6v to 24v lead acid 6v to 24v power supply (when in parallel with a suitable battery). Dimensions: SyRen 10: SyRen 20: Size: 1.4 x 2.25 x .55 Size: 2.4 x 2.3 x .8 Weight: 26g/.9 oz Weight: 55g/1.9oz Features Synchronous regenerative drive: Going one step farther than just regenerative braking, a SyRen motor driver will return power to the battery any time a deceleration or motor reversal is commanded. This can lead to dramatic improvements in run time for systems that stop or reverse often, like a placement robot or a vehicle driving on hilly terrain. This drive scheme also saves power by returning the inductive energy stored in the motor windings to the battery each switching cycle, instead of burning it as heat in the motor windings. This makes part-throttle operation very efficient. Ultra-sonic switching frequency: SyRen 10 and Syren 20 feature a PWM frequency of 32kHz, which is well above the maximum frequency of human hearing. Unlike some other motor drivers, there is no annoying whine when the motor is on, even at low power levels. Thermal and overcurrent protection: SyRen 10 and Syren 20 feature dual temperature sensors and overcurrent sensing. It will protect itself from failure due to overheating, overloading and short circuits. Easy mounting and setup: SyRen has screw terminals for all inputs and outputs. There are four mounting holes, which accept 4-40 screws. Mounting hardware is included. All operating modes and options are set with DIP switches there are no jumpers to struggle with or lose. No soldering is required. Compact Size: SyRen utilizes surface mount construction to provide the most power from a compact package. Its small size and light weight mean you have more space for cargo, batteries, or can make your robot smaller and more nimble than the competition. Carefree reversing: Unlike some other motor drivers, there is no need for the SyRen to stop before being commanded to reverse. You can go from full forward immediately to full reverse or vice versa. Braking and acceleration are proportional to the amount of reversal commanded, so gentle or rapid reversing is possible. Many operating modes: With analog, R/C and serial input modes, as well as dozens of operating options, the SyRen has the flexibility to be used over and over, even as your projects grow more sophisticated. Yet it is simple enough to use for your first project. Diff-drive modes: Diff-drive analog and R/C modes allow for easy tank style steering, without having to purchase an external mixer, while maintaining the flexibility of single motor drivers. All that is necessary is to feed the same drive and turn signal to two properly configured drivers.