How to Make LEGO Power Functions Motors Work With Lego Mindstorms EV3 WITHOUT MODS [2 Ways] [HD]

I have managed to find 2 ways to make LEGO Power Functions motors work with LEGO Mindstorms EV3.

The first(and worst) method involves creating something with LEGO that has a Mindstorms EV3 motor turn on and off a Power Functions battery box in both directions.

The second way is using a converter cable that was once produced by LEGO. This cable allows the motor to be controlled directly by the EV3 intelligent brick. It’s not as simple as just plugging it in and expecting it to work. First, you need to buy a LEGO Power Functions extension cable. You also need to program the motor in the EV3 software very specifically for it to work.

Search ‘Lego mindstorms nxt to rcx cable’ for the converter cable. THE BEST PLACE TO FIND THESE IS EBAY!!! If you are used to BrickLink, here you go.

Search ‘Lego power functions extension wire’ to find and purchase the extension wire required for the second method. The best place to find these is Amazon, but again, if you prefer BrickLink, here you go.

#LEGO #LegoEV3 #LegoPowerFunctions

[LegoTechnicsRule]

Turn the volume up, it’s a bit on the quiet side.

Also, there are two ways around the unregulated motor problem. Firstly, you could buy one of Lego’s rechargeable EV3 batteries and have it constantly plugged in charging. The downside of this is that the rechargeable EV3 battery packs are expensive, around 80 USD. You could probably find one used and thus cheaper on eBay.

You could also power the EV3 brick with a 9v power supply that you plug into the wall. Make sure it’s a switching power supply also called a switching adapter. This is a kind of power supply that keeps its output voltage steady no matter the load. The adapter should say switching adapter on it if it is. Luckily, these are just as common as the adapters that contain heavy and inefficient transformers. If you were to do it this way, it wouldn’t technically be a mod to the EV3 unless you soldered wires to its battery springs. What you would need to do is cut the end off of the 9v wall adapter and find which wires are negative and positive. This can easily be done with a multimeter. Take two alligator clips and hook positive up to the positive battery spring and negative to the negative one. You are done. There are several online tutorials on this. Google “EV3 power supply from wall adapter” and you should find a few.

[asonaut]

I Would Subscribe but you have exactly 1000 subscribers

[minhbaolegosandgaming]

Can u show you how to make lego power functions light work with mindstorms?

[Skrattoune]

Any idea how to get method 2 working with ev3 classroom?

[drjuit]

do you have a 4 motor on 2 wheel, 2 eye ev3 program for sumobots
?

[hydroworld-soontobemigrate]

Thanks for the tips! I just have one question: Must you still use the Unregulated Motor blocks when you are programming LEGO Power Functions Motors to run for a certain number of seconds without using the touch sensor? I am using multiple EV3 bricks to operate third-party Buggy Motors that drive the lift fan propellers in my large hovercraft robot, and I am planning on controlling it wirelessly with an NXT brick.

[wmp]

Wow nice one but why are you showing the Pros and Cons

[wmp]

LEGO Technics Rule i am going to the Lego station to buy Lego mindstorms

[okboing]

we need lego nxt-compatible stepper motors

[HugoAugusto]

Your cable is not built correctly so that's why you have to apply that hack. You need to use 2 resistences to fool EV3.