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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse the micro:bit to control a Snap Circuits DC motor by switching a transistor—not by powering the motor from a GPIO pin. In this project, button A turns the motor on and button B turns it off. A 1 kΩ resistor limits current to the transistor’s base, while an LED wired across the motor in the illustrated direction helps protect the transistor from the voltage pulse produced when the motor stops.
Parts and setup
The Snap:bit project by Kaloyan Raev and Reni Stambolieva, published February 10, 2020, lists a BBC micro:bit, a snap:bit board, and a Snap Circuits 300 Experiments kit. Its circuit uses the kit’s DC Motor M1 and NPN Transistor Q2, plus resistor R2 (1 kΩ), LED D1, and the battery holder for circuit power. Confirm the edition and contents of any kit you use; the tutorial does not establish what current retail versions include. See the project and its circuit illustration.
Snap:bit is described by the project authors as an electronic component for the Snap Circuits educational kit, with a socket for the BBC micro:bit. Follow the circuit illustration for the exact connections and component polarity.
Why the motor needs a transistor
A micro:bit GPIO pin provides a control signal; it should not supply the motor’s operating current. In the project circuit, the battery holder supplies the motor current, and the NPN transistor acts as a switch in that path. The 1 kΩ resistor sits between P2 and the transistor base to limit the small control current.
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The 2020 project authors describe a motor-current scale of 100 mA or more, around 1 mA through the transistor base with the 1 kΩ resistor, and up to 200 mA in the motor path of the shown circuit. These are estimates for their project, not universal ratings for every motor or micro:bit. Check the motor’s datasheet and your board revision before adapting the design.
The Micro:bit Educational Foundation notes that available accessory power depends on board revision, and that loads such as motors may need an external supply. Its edge-connector guidance also warns that inductive loads can produce back-EMF beyond GPIO pin specifications. Check the official power-supply guidance and edge-connector technical notes for the relevant revision and conditions. Do not connect the motor directly to P2.
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How the circuit switches the motor
- Motor off: With no base current, the transistor does not conduct between collector and emitter, so the motor circuit is off.
- Button A: The program writes digital 1 to P2. Current passes through R2 into the transistor base, switching the transistor on; battery current can then flow through M1 and the transistor.
- Button B: The program writes digital 0 to P2. Base current stops, the transistor switches off, and the motor stops.
Why the LED must be across the motor
The motor contains a winding that can generate a voltage pulse when its current is interrupted. In the project’s circuit, LED D1 is placed across the motor in the illustrated direction to provide a path for that pulse and protect the transistor; the authors note that the LED may flash briefly when the motor switches off. Keep the depicted polarity and arrangement rather than moving the LED or omitting it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Program it in MakeCode
The project uses MakeCode’s “digital write pin” block, found under Advanced > Pins. Add the two button actions so that A writes 1 to P2 and B writes 0 to P2. The authors provide a ready-made project on the Hackster project page.
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- Open the project in MakeCode and download the program to the micro:bit.
- Before operating the circuit, disconnect every cable from the micro:bit, including USB and its battery pack, as the tutorial specifies.
- Connect the circuit according to the project illustration, checking the transistor connections and LED polarity.
- Power the circuit using the battery holder. Press A to start the motor and B to stop it.
Checks before adapting the design
- Use the transistor as the motor-current switch; never run motor power through a micro:bit GPIO pin.
- Keep the 1 kΩ base resistor and the flyback-protection LED across the motor, oriented as shown.
- Verify the motor’s current requirements and the power budget for your specific micro:bit revision before substituting a motor or changing the supply.
- If you use different components or a different power arrangement, the project’s current estimates do not establish that the altered circuit is safe or suitable.
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