Running unipolar stepper motor with TIP120

hey

there are two circuits using same transistor but one of them do not have diodes. i read

bout these diodes as following:

"The diodes are a feature typical of circuits that handle magnetic coils, that is inductive

circuits. In this context, the motor windings are the inductive element. Capacitors provide

a means for the storage of electrical charge, inductors provide a means for storage of

electrical current. The driving current causes a magnetic field to be built up in the coil.

As soon as the drive is removed, the magnetic field collapses and causes the inductor to

release its stored current. Semiconductors are particularly sensitive to these currents

(they briefly become conductors and then become permanent nonconductors!). The diodes

provide a mechanism to safely shunt these currents away and, thus, protect the transistors

and the computer."

but in second circuit there is not diodes. why. how much important to use these diodes. if

not to use diodes then which are general measures to protect the transistors from being

burnt as described in above sentence.

and there are some detail about connections of wire:

"You should also note that ground for the transistors must be made common between the

parallel port (say at pin 25) and the motor power supply. An additional wire with an

alligator clip can be used to provide access to the ground for the motor power supply. So,

on the motor side of the circuit we have six wires, one for each coil, one for ground and

one for the motor voltage on the shunt diodes. The motor (positive) voltage supply is

provided through the common coils."

how the motor coil's conman wire and the four diodes wires will be used.
and also tell me about connection of motor with circuit which has not diodes.


http://www.edaboard.com/files-eboard/uln2003_756.jpg
http://www.forth.org/fd/Fig2.GIF

http://www.forth.org/fd/Step.html

the diodes are ther to protect the transistors from back emf which will produce very high voltages at the collector. The diodes have to have sufficient current carying capacity to remove the power in the back emf.
Diodes are usually cheaper than transistors.

peter

Diodes are required with bipolar transistors like the TIP120/122. Do not run it without them, it will only end in tears...

In a motor driver configuration you often see two diodes, one from the collector to the +ve rail and one from the ground rail to the collector - the first protects against back EMF from the motor and prevents the collector voltage going above the +ve supply rail. The second protects against the reverse polarity spike and prevents the collector being pulled below the emitter which can also cause transistor failure.

The diagram below shows these diodes and how the transistors should be wired. Note the common ground point for all the high current wiring and the typical 8-diode protection arrangement. The diodes across the transistors are not needed for TIP120/122 as these have built in diodes, but you do need the ones across the motor coils.